For History or Social Study Teachers

Classroom Packet with:

• census data on German immigration to Iowa;
• articles from the German-Iowan press on
  • slavery & the Civil War;
  • the state’s 1884 prohibition act;
  • the 1916 referendum on woman suffrage.

For German Teachers (or others able to read German)

An Immigrant’s Journey to Iowa

• Full transcription of two letters in German from Wilhelm Fischer to Christoph H. Ficke, describing his journey from Hamburg and arrival in Davenport in 1851
• A shortened, simplified transcription of Fischer’s account, featuring the various mid-19th-century forms of transportation he used. Suitable for use at the Intermediate Level or above.
• Suggested lesson plans and activities for working with Fischer’s letters at the beginning, intermediate, and advanced level of German instruction
• Map of Fischer’s route from New York City to Davenport, including his various modes of transportation (steamship, train, packet boat, and travel by foot)

Historical FAQs

Do your students have questions about our exhibit, German Iowans, or immigration?  Here are some common questions and answers:  FAQs.