Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Emigration


We made it to Berlin. It's hot and we're tired so explorations tomorrow. First, though, the terrific museum of German emigration in Bremerhaven, Das Deutsches Auswandererhaus. All of Mrs. C's great grandparents left through this port. Her great grandfather on her father's side, Juergen Kruse, came in 1858, well ahead of the millions that would follow later.

The journey begins dockside in Bremerhaven's harbor, apparently at night to make embarcation all the more frightening.  It continues through steerage accommodations on a ship: cramped, without privacy or anything good to eat. Then into a second class dining room, which looks quite jolly by comparison.

Eventually we arrive at the new world - New York City. My wife's great grandparents got there far before the famous Ellis Island immigration center opened. They would have disembarked at Castle Gardens, now Castle Clinton in New York's Battery Park. (As would my Irish fore-bearers. Unfortunately, we know little about my mother's Polish family.)

Germans spread out across the country. My wife's family farm was outside of Bremen, Kansas, a hamlet of 45. Hanover, with 900 people, was a few miles further away.

The museum's journey ends, appropriately enough, in Manhattan's Grand Central Station. If we had waited around a little longer we could have caught a train to St. Louis.         













8 comments:

biebkriebels said...

Very interesting museum, so well recreated the circumstances of the old days. Looks very real. Glad you found some information about Carolyn 's ancestors.

William Kendall said...

The displays are quite life like. A lot of Germans came into parts of southwestern Ontario as well in the 19th century- there's still a town called Hanover there, and what was called Berlin got renamed Kitchener during the First World War.

Jack said...

This must be fascinating for your wife and you to see. I would probably have to go to an Irish jail to see where my ancestors left from.

Linda said...

Wow! Looks fascinating.

s.c said...

Wel. Bierkriebels said it all. A very fine museum and a lot of country's here could have one including our own but I am not sure they have.

Bill said...

It looks so real. A fascinating museum that tells and displays an important story.

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Sounds like an exhausting but fabulous trip Bob!

Sharon said...

What an interesting post. My heritage is German too so my ancestors may have come through the same area.