Bremerhaven Auswandererhaus (German Immigration Center)

Since 1830, to 1974, over 15 million European immigrants left Europe for the Americas through this Bremerhaven Center alone. This was one of about a dozen centers throughout northern Europe that provide access for our ancestors to further practice their religion, or avoid persecution and enslavement from their often totalitarian regimes. Only about 2% of those that arrived in the American harbors, like Ellis Island, were sent back due to health problems they may have had. Most settled in the Eastern and Midwestern big cities or started little farms. A large group or Germans farmers even settled in Texas, quite a change for them.
As many as 150,000 or more a year were processed through this center alone, with practically none during the World War years. Most were unskilled laborers fleeing from persecution or lack of work and food and future prospects of any meaningful life here. We saw lists of Polish, Hungarian, Czech, Prussian, Russian and Germans and other smaller ethnic groups making the often difficult trip to northern Germany to this port city to await(which could take months for permission from Western countries) for the opportunity to immigrate to the Americas.
The earlier tall sailing ships would take 6-12 weeks for the crossing, with the later steamships of the late 19Th Century taking a remarkable 1-2 weeks. This Bremerhaven Center Museum, voted best European Museum 2007, was the location of the immigration sailing center that had superior access to the North Sea, and was located 40 miles north of Bremen on the Weser River, a major transportation and commercial hub.
The pictures show our little missionary District outing, the mock ship and exhibits that are part of this superb depiction of the lives of some of our pioneer forefathers and their desire for a better life in the Western Hemisphere.