Current Events

GTHS Honored with Preserve America Steward Award

WASHINGTON, D.C. – First Lady
of the United States Michelle
Obama has signed designation
letters for nine new Preserve
America Stewards, bringing the
total nationwide to 30.
―Preserve America Stewards
are volunteer programs that
have accomplished successful
efforts in preserving the nation’s
historic places,‖ said
Wayne Donaldson, chairman of
the federal Advisory Council on
Historic Preservation (ACHP).
―Historic preservation has always
relied upon motivated, active
volunteers who understand
that it is an individual as well as
community responsibility to
make certain that significant
historic places remain to enrich
and enlighten present and future
generations.‖
The new Preserve America
Stewards include the German-
Texan Heritage Society, in
recognition of its preservation
of the German Free School.

Preserve America Logo

WASHINGTON, D.C. – First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama has signed designation letters for nine new Preserve America Stewards, bringing the total nationwide to 30. “Preserve America Stewards are volunteer programs that have accomplished successful efforts in preserving the nation’s historic places,” said Wayne Donaldson, chairman of the federal Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP). Historic preservation has always relied upon motivated, active volunteers who understand that it is an individual as well as community responsibility to make certain that significant historic places remain to enrich and enlighten present and future generations.

The new Preserve America Stewards include the German-Texan Heritage Society, in recognition of its preservation of the German Free School.

GTHS Annual Meeting, September 24 – 26 (NEW!)

Zion Church

Zion Lutheran Church

Meeting chair, Carl Luckenbach, invites you to Fredericksburg for our 31st Annual Meeting at Zion Lutheran Church.

Our  schedule  includes  genealogy  sessions,  presentations on Fredericksburg
churches, Admiral Nimitz, Grapetown, and Hermann Lehmann. We also will offer tours of private homes and cemeteries and field trips to areas of significant German-Texan history, including the very spot where Baron von Meusebach signed the treaty with the Comanches.

We know this will be a popular destination for our meeting and expect a crowd. We look forward to seeing you in September. For details click here:

GTHS Annual Meeting Package.


German Language Classes – Fall Semester 2010

German speaking flagsThe German-Texan Heritage Society is pleased to announce the 2010 Fall Semester of German language classes for adults and children. Starting in Septmember, the program will offer classes in Austin, Brenham, Bryan and Round Rock. Click here for your local class information and registration form.


Part-time Teaching Opportunities

The German-Texan Heritage Society (GTHS) is currently seeking teachers to instruct our Saturday children’s classes (Samstagsschule) in Austin & San Antonio. Teachers do not need to be certified, but must be proficient German speakers with some teaching or tutoring experience.

GTHS courses are based on the German language program held at the German Free School in downtown Austin. Classes are offered to children at varying experience levels. The children’s classes are open to kids ages 3-13. Interested applicants should send a cover letter and resume to: German Texan Heritage Society, PO Box 684171, Austin, TX  78768. For more information contact GTHS by email at programs@germantexans.org or by phone at (512) 482-0927.


Oktoberfest and Christmas Market

Mark your calendars now for two great upcoming events sponsored by GTHS at the German Free School in Austin. More information will be posted here soon.

Oktoberfest –  October 16, from noon to 6 p.m. (Click for more info.)

Christmas Market – December 4, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Click for more info.)



Maifest 2010 Videos (NEW!)

Ribbon-cutting for New Live Music Stage – Click here for video (about 3 minutes).

Maifest 2010 – Another Great Festival! – Click here for video  (about 8 minutes).

For the creation and donation of these fantastic videos, we owe a very special Vielen Dank to Stephen Davis, owner of 5D Multimedia, the newest video production company in Austin!  Check out his website at http://www.5dmultimedia.com and share with your friends.


GTHS Calendar of Events (NEW!)

Click here for access to a calendar of activities for events of the German-Texan Heritage Society.  Most events take place at the German Free School in Austin but check the details for each item.


Movie Night

Movies will resume on September 17.  Check back for more details.


Oktoberfest 2009 Video

At the German Free School in Austin on a beautiful Saturday in late October 2009, we celebrated Oktoberfest with music, dancing, great German food and beer, fun activities for the kids and more!  If you were able to participate you are probably looking forward to future festivals.  If you missed this one, maybe the video at this link will spark your interest:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGgJfjkVsYw

This video was professionally produced and generously donated to GTHS by  Stephen Davis, owner of 5D Multimedia, the newest video production company in Austin!  Check out his website at http://www.5dmultimedia.com and share with your friends.


Link Your Randall’s Card to GTHS

GTHS is enrolled in the Randall’s ‘Good Neighbor’ program, which means that the supermarket donates a percentage of sales made by shoppers who have linked their Randall’s card to our account. Your card can be linked to up to three charities of your choice. If you would like to participate, please fill out the ‘Good Neighbor Program’ form at the customer service booth. The form requires our charity number: 1298.


Volunteer Opportunities

The German-Texan Heritage Society relies on volunteers to keep all its events and activities going. Please check our volunteering page to see how you can get involved.


Weekly Stammtisch & Open House

If you’re in Austin, please join us every Thursday at noon for our Stammtisch at the German Free School. Tours of the building are available until 4:00 pm. (more)


Are You A Reader?

The Library Committee has designated every Thursday as Used Book Sale Day at the German Free School building. Books will be for sale between 1 and 4 p.m. If Thursday is inconvenient, just call the GTHS office at (512) 482-0927 to arrange an appointment to browse our bookshelves. The books are mostly sold by donation (some books may be priced) and all proceeds benefit the Trenckmann Memorial Library. Most of the books are in German, but some are in English. They include novels, poetry, books on history, politics, philosophy and gardening, cookbooks and materials for German teachers. Please join us and browse the shelves.










Office Hours 10 - 4:00
M-W-F
Library Hours 1 - 4:00
M-W-TH-F or by appointment
Stammtisch 12 - 1:00
TH
Building Tours 1 - 4:00
TH or by appointment