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Hockemeyer Hall / German-American Heritage Museum
 German Roots in Washington

  • The former Hockemeyer Hall, now the German-American Heritage Museum, August 2010. Image Credit: Goethe-Institut Washington/William Gilcher

    The former Hockemeyer Hall, now the German-American Heritage Museum, August 2010.

  • Hockemeyer Hall entryway. Now open as the German-American Heritage Museum, the staircase features the names of famous Americans with German-American ancestry. 2010. Photo Credit: Bruce Guthrie

    Hockemeyer Hall entryway. Now open as the German-American Heritage Museum, the staircase features the names of famous Americans with German-American ancestry. 2010.

  • The interior of Hockemeyer Hall has been renovated to accommodate the German-American Heritage Museum. Displays retell significant contributions made by German-Americans to our society. 2010. Image Credit: German-American Heritage Museum/Diana Labisch

    The interior of Hockemeyer Hall has been renovated to accommodate the German-American Heritage Museum. Displays retell significant contributions made by German-Americans to our society. 2010.

The German-American Heritage Museum of the United States opened in March, 2010 in a building once known as Hockemeyer Hall, located on 6th Street NW in the heart of the old European-American section of Washington, now a thriving commercial neighborhood.

The building was constructed as a townhouse in 1888 for merchant John Hockemeyer, a German immigrant who came to Washington as a 15-year-old in 1858. Hockemeyer, like many German-Americans, served in the Civil War. He later was successful as a grocer.

After its time as a residence, the building was used as a clubhouse and dancing studio. The building's more recent history is typical of many in the old downtown: In March 2004, the DC Preservation League filed an application to declare the building a landmark after a raze permit application was filed. The resulting negotiations led to the building's being rescued in conjunction with development of offices nearby. The German-American Heritage Foundation acquired the building in 2008 and has restored it for renewed public use. Visitors are welcome to see a permanent exhibition, tour the building, or participate in public events.

Below is a short video introducing the German-American Heritage Museum with its director, Rüdiger Lentz.

German American Heritage Museum from Certifiedvisual.com on Vimeo.

 

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