DANK Haus German American Cultural Center facts for kids
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| Established | 1959 |
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| Location | 4740 North Western Avenue Chicago, IL 60625 P:773.561.9181 |
The DANK-Haus German American Cultural Center is a special place in Chicago. It is located in the Lincoln Square, Chicago area. This center was started in 1959. Its main goal is to keep German and German American culture alive. It also helps people learn more about this culture.
At DANK-Haus, you can find many interesting things. There is a museum and an art gallery called Scharpenberg. It also has a library, which is named Koegel Bibliothek. The center has spaces for social events and gatherings. You can even take German language classes there. DANK-Haus is part of the Chicago Cultural Alliance.
What is DANK-Haus?
The DANK-Haus Cultural Center began with an organization. This group was called the Deutsch Amerikanischer National Kongress. In English, this means the German American National Congress, or DANK. This organization works to support German American people and their culture. The word Dank in German means "thanks." The main office for the Congress is inside the center.
How DANK-Haus Started
The German American National Congress was also founded in 1959. A person named Leonard Enders helped a lot to start it. He was the editor of a German newspaper. This newspaper was called Abendpost und Sonntagspost. The Congress now has different groups across the United States.
The Building's History
The building where the Cultural Center is located is quite old. An architect named Paul Gerhardt designed it. It was built in 1927. At first, it was a multi-purpose center for a social club. It even has an Olympic-size swimming pool inside! DANK bought this building in 1967.
Learn More
- Germans in Chicago
