Overview
St. Louis has a large and active German-American community with a
long and rich history. Through the latter half of the
nineteenth century many people from Germany settled in this area,
and here they built a prosperous settlement in that part of the city
that is known as the Soulard District. In this new settlement,
the people continued to speak German, founded German businesses,
built German churches, established a German newspaper, and
constructed monuments that recalled their German heritage. The
people also formed organizations that helped them preserve their
culture and customs.
Many of the organizations that were created in those early days
of the St. Louis German settlement remain in existence today.
Over time, these founding groups have been supplemented by other,
newer associations, like St. Louis - Stuttgart Sister
Cities. Together, in cooperation, all of these continue
to this day to act as a powerful cultural force, uniting the many,
varied members of the St. Louis German-American community.
Apart from St. Louis - Stuttgart Sister Cities, here are some of
the other main German-American organizations that can be found in
St. Louis.
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St. Louis Bayern Verein
One of the oldest of all of the St. Louis
German/American associations, the St. Louis Bayern Verein was
founded on September 9, 1883 to offer sociable entertainment and
assistance to fellow Bavarians. It is still going strong
today.
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St. Louis Badischer
Unterstützungs Verein
Another of the very old St. Louis
German/American associations, the St. Louis Badischer
Unterstützungs Verein was founded on December 20, 1885 to provide
sociability and support for immigrants from Baden who were in
need. It continues to look to offer ongoing support to the
members' survivors.
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Deutsche Kulturverein
The Deutsche
Kulturverein can trace its roots back to 1945, when it was first
organized as the American Aid Society of St. Louis. Today, the
Kulturverein is made up of many groups that promote and preserve the
German culture, customs and German language through music, songs,
crafts and dances in original costumes. These groups include a
German Kindergarten, a Ladies Choir, various folk dance groups, and
the Deutschmeister Blaskapelle, an authentic German Brass Band.
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Schuetzenverein St. Louis
Established in 1961, the mission of the
Schutzenverein St. Louis (St. Louis Shooting Club) has been to
enhance German and American relationships by providing fellowship
and education through mutual social interest in German
Schuetzenverein traditions and competitions. The
organization has regular meetings, and air rifle competitions are
held on the fourth Thursday of every month.
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G.T.E.V. D'Froehliche
Schuhplattler
The G.T.E.V. D'Froehliche Schuhplatter was founded
on February 10, 1976, and is one of the 76 clubs in the Gauverband
Nordamerika, an international group of Schuhplattler clubs from all
over the United States and Canada. G.T.E.V. D'Froehliche
Schuhplatter strives to preserve the German culture through
traditional folk dancing, music and German singing. The group
participates in many events, including private, civic, local and
out-of-town.
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German-American Heritage
Society
The German-American Heritage Society is dedicated to
the preservation of the history and culture of our German forebears
and to the promulgation of cooperation and understanding between
Germany and the United States. An objective of the
organization is the establishment of archives at the St. Louis
Public Library documenting the history of German-oriented families
settling in St. Louis and surrounding areas.
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