Built on the Backs Built on the Backs of the Bavariansof the Bavarians

German Americans and German Americans and Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine

NeighborhoodNeighborhood

““German” AmericansGerman” Americans Large numbers in First Wave of Large numbers in First Wave of

Immigration and in every wave afterImmigration and in every wave after German: Bavaria, Prussia, Haden and German: Bavaria, Prussia, Haden and

other German statesother German states Cincinnati is a major destinationCincinnati is a major destination 1788: First Germans arrive in Cincinnati1788: First Germans arrive in Cincinnati Within Cincinnati – Over-the-Rhine (OTR) Within Cincinnati – Over-the-Rhine (OTR)

neighborhood was a primary destinationneighborhood was a primary destination

Aerial View of CincinnatiAerial View of Cincinnatiand Over-the-Rhine (red outline)and Over-the-Rhine (red outline)

www.otrfoundation.org

Over-the-RhineOver-the-Rhine

OTR was located north of downtown OTR was located north of downtown Cincinnati across the Miami and Erie Cincinnati across the Miami and Erie CanalCanal

The neighborhood was originally The neighborhood was originally connected to downtown by bridgeconnected to downtown by bridge

Residents said they were “Crossing Residents said they were “Crossing the Rhine” referring to the Old the Rhine” referring to the Old Country and the Rhine River. The Country and the Rhine River. The new American neighborhood became new American neighborhood became known as Over-the-Rhineknown as Over-the-Rhine

Miami and Erie Canal -- OTRMiami and Erie Canal -- OTR

www.ohiomemory.org

Push Factors for EmigrationPush Factors for Emigration

Many Germans immigrated to the US Many Germans immigrated to the US because they participatedr in failed because they participatedr in failed European revolutions in 1832 and again European revolutions in 1832 and again in 1848.in 1848.

Emigrants left the German states to Emigrants left the German states to avoid military service, religious and avoid military service, religious and economic struggles, and a lack of economic struggles, and a lack of opportunity to own landopportunity to own land

http://www-lib.iupui.edu/kade/adams/chap2.htmlhttp://www-lib.iupui.edu/kade/adams/chap2.html

Pull Factors for ImmigrationPull Factors for Immigration

Germans found available landGermans found available land Germans found comfort in aid Germans found comfort in aid

societies (clubs) based on common societies (clubs) based on common religious ideas, language and religious ideas, language and hobbies hobbies

German immigrants found work in German immigrants found work in Ohio building the canalsOhio building the canals• In Cincinnati, many settle and write In Cincinnati, many settle and write

home, beginning a series of chain home, beginning a series of chain migrationsmigrations

Canals allow Ohio Farmers and Merchants to Canals allow Ohio Farmers and Merchants to reach a larger market and increase profits.reach a larger market and increase profits.

Ohioans needed quick and Ohioans needed quick and easy access to the Ohio easy access to the Ohio River and to Lake Erie if River and to Lake Erie if they were to profit they were to profit financially. Additionally, a financially. Additionally, a canal might open Ohio up to canal might open Ohio up to other industry.other industry.

The Miami and Erie became The Miami and Erie became one of Ohio’s most one of Ohio’s most important canals during the important canals during the mid 19th century. mid 19th century.

Produce could travel much Produce could travel much more quickly by canal boat more quickly by canal boat than by turnpike.than by turnpike.

www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=753rec=753

What about canals?What about canals?

The Ohio canals were dug by hand, The Ohio canals were dug by hand, with picks and shovels. Occasionally, with picks and shovels. Occasionally, teams of horses and oxen powered teams of horses and oxen powered slip scoops and pulled wagons. slip scoops and pulled wagons.

The canals not only carried people and The canals not only carried people and freight, but served as swimming and freight, but served as swimming and fishing holes and as ice rinksfishing holes and as ice rinks

OTR Grew with the Breweries…OTR Grew with the Breweries…

Over the Barrel

Resources…Resources… They brought They brought

recipes, recipes, ingredients, ingredients, and knowledge and knowledge of brewingof brewing

Locating in OTR, Locating in OTR, they had access they had access to the canalto the canal

What are two What are two ways brewers ways brewers used the used the canals?canals?

Over the Barrel

Resources Continued…Resources Continued… German immigrants continued to German immigrants continued to

arrive and work in the breweries arrive and work in the breweries AND…they began related companies AND…they began related companies • Coopers: barrelmakersCoopers: barrelmakers• Suppliers: ice chest makers and tool & Suppliers: ice chest makers and tool &

die companiesdie companies• Retailers: restaurants, Retailers: restaurants,

taverns, and inns taverns, and inns

Over the Barrel

Handbill Handbill for for

ManufacturedManufacturedGoodsGoods

Over the Barrel

OTR – Center of German CultureOTR – Center of German Culture

Their goal was to find a job, but over Their goal was to find a job, but over time they actually developed new time they actually developed new markets and jobs for others. An markets and jobs for others. An entire community was built on the entire community was built on the success of these first immigrantssuccess of these first immigrants

Architecture: As in other lasting Architecture: As in other lasting ethnic communities, particular styles ethnic communities, particular styles dominated (Italianate and Gothic dominated (Italianate and Gothic Revival)Revival)

Other Lasting EffectsOther Lasting Effects Artistic Expression: Artistic Expression:

Fountain Square(a gift Fountain Square(a gift from its sister city, from its sister city, Munich Germany), The Munich Germany), The Cincinnati Music Hall, Cincinnati Music Hall, Cincinnati Symphony Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra and the Conservatory of MusicConservatory of Music

Language: words Language: words including blitz, including blitz, dachsund, deli, diesel, dachsund, deli, diesel, nickel, fahrenheit and nickel, fahrenheit and weiner, also the city of weiner, also the city of “Zinzinnati”“Zinzinnati”

www.myfountainsquare.com

More Lasting EffectsMore Lasting Effects

Religion: German Religion: German Catholic parishes such Catholic parishes such as St. Mary’s, and a as St. Mary’s, and a strong Protestant strong Protestant presence which presence which resulted in the first resulted in the first German Methodist German Methodist Church.Church.

Food: sausages, Food: sausages, sauerkraut, potato sauerkraut, potato salad, soft pretzels, salad, soft pretzels, strudel and bratwurststrudel and bratwurst

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Old_Saint_Mary%27s_Church.jpg

Other Lasting ContributionsOther Lasting Contributions Grammer’s Restaurant on Walnut Street Grammer’s Restaurant on Walnut Street

was the oldest German restaurant in OTR. was the oldest German restaurant in OTR. It opened in 1872. OTR’s Findlay Market is It opened in 1872. OTR’s Findlay Market is the oldest open public market in the city. the oldest open public market in the city. It is a German-style market.It is a German-style market.

Nationally, the German Christmas was the Nationally, the German Christmas was the base for many American Christmas base for many American Christmas traditions including the gift-giving, the traditions including the gift-giving, the Christmas tree and the emphasis on Christmas tree and the emphasis on family. family.

BibliographyBibliography Ethnic Diversity and Civic Identity Ethnic Diversity and Civic Identity German Heritage Guide to the Greater Cincinnati Area, 2German Heritage Guide to the Greater Cincinnati Area, 2ndnd

ed.ed. The Images of America: German CincinnatiThe Images of America: German Cincinnati Over the Barrel: the Brewing History and Beer Culture of Over the Barrel: the Brewing History and Beer Culture of

CincinnatiCincinnati The Survival of an Ethnic CommunityThe Survival of an Ethnic Community www.energyofanation.comwww.energyofanation.com www.ohiohistorycentral.orgwww.ohiohistorycentral.org www.ohiomemory.orgwww.ohiomemory.org www.otrfoundation.orgwww.otrfoundation.org www.pgcincinnati.comwww.pgcincinnati.com www.wikipedia.comwww.wikipedia.com