German-American Day at Abe Lincoln Presidential Museum

Oct 2, 2013 6:42 AM

Lincoln Presidential Library hosts free presentations on contributions to Illinois history by German-Americans Oct. 6

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum will help celebrate national German-American Day on Oct. 6 with presentations on German settlers in Illinois, the work of noted architect Walter Netsch and more.

Civil War letters and diaries by German-American soldiers will be on display, as will pictures by Springfield photographers A.W. Kessberger and Victor Georg.

The free event runs 1-3 p.m. in the Lincoln Presidential Library’s multi-purpose room. To reserve a seat, visit www.presidentlincoln.illinois.gov and click on “special event tickets and reservations” or call 217-558-8934.

German-American Day commemorates the date in 1683 when 13 German families landed in Philadelphia. They went on to found Germantown, Pa., the first German settlement in the original 13 American colonies.

Speakers at the Lincoln Presidential Library’s event include:

Wolf Fuhrig, past president of the Springfield chapter of DANK, the German American National Congress, discussing Illinois Lt. Gov. Gustav Koerner.
Attorney Richard Hart on German settlers
Eileen Mackevich, director of the Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, and Anthony Rubano of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency teaming up to discuss Walter Netsch, who designed the Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel, among many other buildings.

The event will also feature music by the Old State Capitol Chorale.