Neighborhood News: DANK Haus, the center of German Culture in Lincoln Square
Sprichst du deutsch? During this season of Oktoberfests and harvest festivals, everyone converges around Lincoln Square (Lawrence, Lincoln and Western Avenues) for good times, music, dancing…und Bier!
But for year-round celebrations and to gain a deeper understanding of cultural heritage, Chicagoans turn to DANK-Haus German American Cultural Center, 4740 North Western Avenue, a cultural preserve to promote German and German American culture.
German-American Culture in Chicago
Lincoln Square was founded by German immigrants in the 1840s. In 1914, there were 191,168 people born in Germany living in Chicago; this was the peak number of German-born people in Chicago. As of the year 1930, those of German ancestry were the largest European ethnic group in Chicago.
However, as of the 2000 U.S. Census, according to Wikipedia sources, 15.8% of people in the Chicago area had German ancestry, and those of German ancestry were the largest ethnic group in 80% of Chicago’s suburbs. However, as of today, that number has decreased to 6%.
But Lincoln Square remains the center of German-American culture in Chicago, filled with independent shops, delicious restaurants, and coffee shops.
“Our Haus”
According to Wikipedia sources, DANK Haus has its origins in the founding of the Deutsch Amerikanischer National Kongress (German American National Congress, or DANK), an organization dedicated to German American welfare and culture. In German, Dank, as well as danke, is used in phrases expressing thanks.
The headquarters of the Congress is housed in the center. Today, DANK Haus has 77,000 square feet, containing a fully operational school, community room, four bars, ballroom, art gallery, museum, and is a cornerstone of the Lincoln Square community.
According to Wikipedia sources, the Cultural Center building was designed by architect Paul Gerhardt, son in law of the Chicago Alderman and architect of Cook County Hospital, Lane Technical High School, Von Steuben High School, and the L&H Company Building. It was originally built for the Three Links Association, a ‘jolly fellows’ club.
It was purchased by DANK in 1967. Today , DANK Haus contains the DANK museum, Scharpenberg art gallery, a library (Koegel Bibliothek), facilities for social gatherings, and offers German language classes. It is a member organization of the Chicago Cultural Alliance.
Kinderschule
DANK Haus offers education for ages 6 months to 18 year olds Monday – Friday; their weekday elementary classes (Preschool and Kindergarten) welcomes students 3-6 years of age. Tuesdays, they have a FREE Krabbelgruppe (play group) meets from October – April for a playful get together of 0-4year olds. On Saturdays, students ages 6 months to 18 years old can join in a community based heritage learning school. During holidays, their Day Camp welcomes students 3-9 years of age for single days, or whole weeks during the major holidays throughout the year.
Events
DANK Haus is conducting a history course called ‘The Germanen at the Crossroads of Antiquity’ starting Thursday, October 03 and ending Thursday, February 6, 2025, an exploration of the ancient Germanen culture, where they appeared on the world stage as warlike barbarians—to the Romans and Greeks—and soulless pagans—to Jews and Christians. It was at the confluence of these cultures, however, that the identity of Western Europe would gradually take shape. The course explored Germanic Antiquity and its Kultur to find out what recorded history tells us of these martially vigorous Germanen, who carried mighty and swift swords but few of whom could read or write.
Films
On Friday, October 11, from 7:30pm – 9:00pm, DANK Haus presents Die Abenteuer des Prinzen Achmed (The Adventures of Prince Achmed), a 1926 German animated fairytale film by Lotte Reiniger. It is the oldest surviving animated feature film in theirBrauhaus Room.
DANK Haus is open to all. For more information, memberships, events and programs, click here.
Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago
