Bremerhaven was the last German city my ancestor saw before heading to America.
My mother explained to me that my great-grandmother’s last name was Wefenstette and that they came from Germany. So I went to our local library and did some research on my descendants. I found that my ancestor left for the U.S. in the 1860s from Bremerhaven, Germany.
I then looked up information on Bremerhaven and discovered it has an immigration museum so I’ve decide to add this to our list of places to visit when we are Germany. I’m hoping that our son can learn a little about the immigrant experience and what my ancestor went through to on his journey to America.
Deutsches Auswanderhaus (German Emigration Center)
The museum provides you with a tour of the emigration experience. It starts with The Waiting Hall, which is a reconstructed emigration building from 1869 where they were processed. Here you can learn interesting facts about the history of Bremerhaven and its emigration ports.
At the Quay you can see a detailed reconstruction of what it was to see off your relatives bound for America as some hugged there relatives for possibly the last time.
Then you go to The Passage where you can experience what emigrants went through as they crossed the Atlantic. This includes a reconstruction of the close quarters of the ships hull, which was not a pleasure cruise, it was rough and tumble and crowded.
In the Gallery of 7 Million you can hear the personal stories among the millions that left Germany. It explains why they left and their personal backgrounds.
You will experience what the immigration office at Ellis Island was like then. This was also where the immigrant learns if they are allowed into this country, not all were.
In the Office of the New World you can see letters from relatives and friends who had already emigrated. My ancestor had another relative from the same region that headed to America the year before, so he someone to tell him if it was going well for him and where he should settle.
My dad wondered why he chose the county in Missouri over the one in Illinois, maybe the land was cheaper, if someone out there knows, please share.
Next you head for the recreated Grand Central Terminal where German immigrants would have taken trains to parts unknown, in my history, the Midwest.
In the end you are able to do a family search of your ancestors on two free online databases at the end.
The museum also has a section dedicated to immigrants to Germany that includes a recreated 1970s-era shopping mall and a movie theater screens short films about German immigrants and their families.
Hours: March- Oct., Daily, 10 am – 6 pm, Mondays- Sundays; Nov. – Feb. , Daily, 10 am – 5 pm, Mondays – Sundays. The family research is open daily from 12 noon.
Admission: Adult €15, Children (5-16 years) €9. Check website for reduced and family rates.
Address: Columbusstraße 65, 27568 Bremerhaven, Germany
OTHER SIGHTS IN BREMERHAVEN
Klimahaus Bremerhaven 8 ° Ost (Climate House)
Located at 8 degrees longitude you can travel a virtual 8 degrees of longitude in a single day and experience a wide variety of climate zones along the way. The museum also shares facts on climate change.
Hours: Monday- Sunday 10 am – 6 pm
Admission: €17, Family €49.
Address: Am Längengrad 8, 27568 Bremerhaven, Germany
Deutsches Schlifffahrstmuseum (German Maritime Museum)
Located directly on the Weser Dyke providing the history of seafaring in 8,600 feet (8,000 meters) of space. The museum has vintage ships that have hundreds of historical maritime objects. The museum displays ship models, paintings, dioramas, models you can touch that are both inside and outside.
Hours: Daily, 10 am – 6 pm, Closed Mondays, check the website for information on hours.
Admission: Adults €3, Children from 6 years €1.50, check the website for discounts.
Address: Hans-Scharoun-Platz 1, 27568 Bremerhaven
Zoo Am Meer Bremerhaven
Zoo specializes in aquatic and Nordic wildlife and has numerous saltwater tanks.
Hours: April – Sept. 9 am – 7 pm; March – Oct., 9 am – 6 pm, Nov. – Feb., 9 am – 4:30 pm.
Admission: Adults €9, Students from 15 years €6.50, Children (4-14 years) €5.50; Children 0-3 years Free Admission. Check the website for more discounts.
Address: Hermann-Henrich-Meier-Straße 7, 27568 Bremerhaven, Germany
Aussichtsplattform Sail City
An observation platform at the 20th and 21 floors at 90 meters (295 feet) afford views of the North Sea and Bremerhaven.
Hours: Daily, 9 am – 9 pm. It can be closed due to weather.
Admission: Adults €3, Children (2-12 years) €2, Families (2 adults and up to three children) €8.
Address: Am Strom 1, 27568 Bremerhaven, Germany
U-Boot Wihelm Bauer (German U-Boat)
Explore an original submarine of World War II in the museum harbor.
Hours: March 15- May 14 Daily 10 am to 6 pm; May 15 – Sept. 14 Daily 10 am – 7 pm; Daily Sept. 15- Nov. 10 Daily 10 am – 6 pm.
Admission: Adults €3.50, Children up to five years: free admission when accompanied by a paying adult. Reduced €2.50 for 6-17 years, Students, Pensioners, Disabled, Groups (from 15 persons).
Address: Hans-Scharoun-Platz 1, 27568 Bremerhaven, Germany
Other Sights Nearby: Weser-Strandbad- Beach – does charge admission; Knutmuseum Bremerhaven – art museum and Historisches Museum Bremerhaven— history museum.
Restaurants
I normally don’t list these- but since the city is on the sea I’m interested in trying seafood from the North Sea. Two that I found were Der Wasserschout and farther afield and not in walking distance Natusch – Fischereihafen Restaurant and you can checkout the fish store at Fischräucherei Franke.
