German Americans in Indianapolis Before WWI

5 Locations | Curated by Discover Indiana

The American Midwest was a magnet for many German-American immigrants as hundreds of thousands made their journey to the United States in the mid-1800s. Indianapolis was no exception. As more German families settled in the city, residents made efforts to found cultural institutions in their new home and cultivate a strong sense of “Deutschtum” -- Germanness. This included restaurants, stores, schools, religious communities, and societies dedicated to all sorts of topics and causes. Many of these groups drew direct inspiration from existing groups in their home country that residents might have previously participated in.

When you look around the city today, many of these structures that played a significant role in community members’ lives remain, although some have also been removed. Multiple structures, like the Liederkranz and Zion Evangelical Church, still serve the same function as they did in the past. Others, like the Independent Turnverein and Pleasant Run Children's Home, now operate as something completely different. Additional examples of German-built structures also exist beyond the ones detailed in this tour.

Even though most overtly German culture in Indianapolis has waned over time, in large part due to the effects of anti-German sentiment during World War I, German culture still contributes notably to the fabric of the city today.

You are standing in front of the Indianapolis Liederkranz Building, which has been home to the Indianapolis Liederkranz since 1914. This is the oldest active German singing organization in the city and one of the few remaining of its kind in the United States. Music has long served as a vital…
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German language newspapers were thriving in Indiana by 1850. They reflected the larger German immigrant population that had made Indiana their home. The Taglicher Telegraph became Indianapolis’ first daily German-language newspaper in 1866. It was just one of over 175 German-language newspapers…
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The modern-day apartment complex in front of you, The Turnverein, is a striking example of the influence of German immigrants on the development of Indianapolis and the United States. Originally constructed in 1914, this building began its life as a gymnasium and activity center for the Independent…
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In the wake of the Civil War, a growing number of American children were left orphaned. In response, members of the Germania Lodge No. 3, a German American fraternal society, founded the Deutscher Allgemeiner Protestantischer Waisenverein (German General Protestant Orphan Association) with the goal…
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