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TEMPORARY EXHIBIT
Emigration Stories
(Auswanderung Geschichten)
Michigan is a state settled by immigrants. Even the earliest Native Americans to
live in this area originally came from somewhere else.
In 1845, Frankenmuth was the first of four colonies,
organized by Pastor Wilhelm Löhe in Bavaria. One of his goals was to create a
place where German immigrants could settle, but still worship in the German
language as they had in Bavaria. He felt that staying “German” would help them
stay Lutheran.
The Bavarian Lutherans who settled here were followed by
immigrants from other parts of what became Germany in 1871. Germans from Russia
settled in the area to work sugar beet fields and to find jobs in factories.
Not all of the immigrants who settled in this area were
German, but each had a story to tell. In this exhibit are gathered together a
collection of these stories. There is a study area for anyone who wishes to sit
and read more about these people and an area for children to “Pack for the
Journey.
Immigrate
or Emigrate?
 When people leave a country to settle in another country,
they emigrate from that country (E for exit).
 When people enter another country to settle, the immigrate
to that country (I for in).
What was
happening elsewhere while this area was being settled?
Events in
the United States
(courtesy of
Wikipedia)
1845 Florida becomes the 27th
U.S. state and President John Tyler signs a bill authorizing the United States
to annex the Republic of Texas. In December, Texas is admitted as the 28th
U.S. state.
1845 James K. Polk succeeds
John Tyler as the 11th President of the United States. He announces
to Congress that the Monroe Doctrine should be enforced and that the United
States should aggressively expand into the West (Manifest Destiny).
Events
in Michigan
(courtesy
of Michigan History)
1845
Frankenmuth colonists arrive.
1845
The University of Michigan graduates its first class.
Events in
Bavaria (Germany)
1845
Pastor Wilhelm Löhe organizes the first of four colonies for Michigan.
1845/1846
A series of bad harvests culminates in the potato blight of 1845/46, bringing
widespread misery and some starvation. An economic depression adds to the
hardship, spreading discontent among the poor and middle class. Many see
emigration to North America as a means towards a new life.
Events in
the United States
(courtesy of
Wikipedia)
1846
The Irish Potato Famine (1845-1849) causes an increase in immigration to the
United States.
1846
Mexican American War (1846-1848) results in California declaring independence
from Mexico.
1846
Iowa is admitted as the 29th U.S. State.
1846
Elias Howe patents the sewing
machine.
Events
in Michigan
(courtesy
of Michigan History)
1846
A woman addresses the Michigan legislature (Ernestine Rose on Women’s suffrage).
Events in
Bavaria (Germany)
1846-1856
saw the emigration of 70,000 Bavarians, heading for America. That is
approximately ½ of all the Bavarians that emigrated. Between 1845 and 1854 the
second great wave of German-speaking immigrants (940,000) arrive in America
(Ref.
www.reinhartgenealogy.com). The first emigration wave was 1817/1818.
Events in
the United States
(courtesy of
Wikipedia)
1847
Samuel Colt sells his first revolver pistol to the United States government.
1847
Yerba Buena, California is renamed San Francisco. 1846/1847 The Donner Party, a
group of California emigrants, becomes snowbound in the Sierra Nevada.
1847
The American Medical Association (AMA) is founded in Philadelphia.
1847
The United States issues its first postage stamps.
1847
Johnny Appleseed (John Chapman, born 1774), American pioneer agronomist, passes
away.
Events
in Michigan
(courtesy
of Michigan History)
1847
Governor Greenly signs a bill moving the state capital from Detroit to Lansing
Township.
Events in
Bavaria (Germany)
1847-1849
The railroad between Hanover and Bremen was under construction. Rail travel on
the route used by most immigrants was possible from Nuremberg to Fuerth and from
Werdau to Hanover via Leipzig. Travel between these points was overland, often
by foot.
Events in
the United States
(courtesy of
Wikipedia)
1848
Mexican-American War (1846-1848) ends with the signing of the Treaty of
Guadalupe. All of the Republic of Texas’ territorial claims are ceded to the
United States for $15 million.
1848
James W. Marshall finds gold at Sutter’s Mill, in Coloma, near Sacramento,
California (California Gold Rush).
1848
The Boston Female Medical School opens; the first medical school for women.
1848
A cholera epidemic in New York kills 5000. In the United States, cholera
is prevalent in the 19th century, until
virtually eliminated by modern sewage and water treatment systems.
1848
Wisconsin is admitted as the 30th U.S. state.
Events
in Michigan
(courtesy
of Michigan History)
1848
Epaphroditus Ransom is the first governor sworn in at the new capital in Lansing
(Michigan is the 26th state in 1837. Stevens T. Mason is the first
state governor).
Events in
Bavaria (Germany)
1848/1849
The success of the 1848 revolution in France sparks revolts in various German
cities. The National Assembly, consisting of about 800 delegates from all of the
Confederated German states, meets to draft a constitution for all of Germany
(Frankfurt Parliament, 1850). The reforms fail when the conservatives regain
power. Increased militarism causes many within Germany, particularly males, to
emigrate in order to avoid military service. Most flee to the United States and
are referred to as the “48’ers” (not to be confused with the Gold Rush 49’ers).
1848 King Ludwig I of Bavaria abdicates.
Events in the United States
(courtesy
of Wikipedia)
1850
President Zachary Taylor dies while in office and Vice President Millard
Fillmore becomes the 13th President of the United States.
1850
California is admitted as the 31st U.S. State.
1858 Minnesota is admitted as the 32nd
U.S. State. 1859 Oregon is admitted as the 33rd
U.S. State.
1850
Harriet Tubman becomes an official conductor of the Underground Railroad.
1852
Democrat Franklin Pierce elected 14th president.
1856
Democrat James Buchanan is elected 15th president.
1857
Elisha Otis’ first elevator is installed in New York.
1859
Edwin Drake drills the first oil well in the United States, near Titusville,
Pennsylvania.
Events
in Michigan
(courtesy
of Michigan History)
1850
Voters approve Michigan’s second constitution.
1854
Michiganians gather in Jackson to form the national Republican Party.
1855
The Soo Locks open, overcoming the St. Mary’s River rapids.
Events in
Bavaria (Germany)
1850’s
The Prussians fail to unify the German monarchies under the constitution written
at the Frankfurt Parliament (1850); restoration of the German Confederation
under Austrian leadership.
Events in the United States
(courtesy of
Wikipedia)
1863-1869
First Transcontinental Railroad in the U.S. is built.
April 12,
1861-April 9, 1865 American Civil War
is fought between the remaining United States of America under President Abraham
Lincoln and the self-declared Confederate States of America under President
Jefferson Davis. 1865 President of the United
States, Abraham Lincoln, is assassinated by John Wilkes Booth.
1865-1869
President Andrew Johnson oversees the Reconstruction era.
Events
in Michigan
(courtesy
of Michigan History)
1861
The 1st Michigan Infantry is mustered into service of the United
States at Detroit.
1864
The First Michigan Colored Infantry is mustered into federal service.
1865
Members of the Fourth Michigan Cavalry capture Jefferson Davis.
1866
Former territorial governor and U.S.
senator, Lewis Cass, dies in Detroit.
Events in
Bavaria (Germany)
1862
Otto von Bismarck appointed chancellor in Prussia to resolve the budget crisis.
1866
Austrian-Prussian War is won by Prussia. 1867
The North German Confederation established under Prussian leadership. Its
constitution was prepared by Prussian Prime Minister, Otto von Bismarck. This
constitution became the basis for the 1871 constitution of the German Empire.
Germany acquired some democratic features including the Reichstag (parliament).
Events in the United States
(courtesy
of Wikipedia)
1870Christmas
is declared a federal holiday.
1873
Ulysses S. Grant begins his second presidential term.
1870-1877 Post-Civil-War reconstruction continued under President
Rutherford B. Hayes (president 1876).
1873
Henry Rose exhibits barbed wire at an Illinois county fair and Joseph Glidden
and Jacob Haisch invent a machine to mass-produce it.
1873
Bank Panic: In 1874 The United States
Greenback Party is established, mainly by farmers financially hurt by the Panic
of 1873. A series of bank panics (1873, 1893 and 1907)
provided strong demand for the creation of a centralized banking system.
1876
Telephone is invented by Alexander Graham Bell.
1876
United States orders all Native Americans to move into reservations.
Events
in Michigan
(courtesy
of Michigan History)
1870
African Americans in Michigan go to the polls to vote.
1879
Dedication ceremonies are held at Michigan’s new State Capital building in
Lansing.
Events in
Bavaria (Germany)
1870
The Franco-Prussian War won by the
German Confederation. The surrender of Emperor Napoleon II accepted on September
2nd.
1871
German princes sign unification treaty and create a constitution establishing
the second German Empire (creates “Germany”).
January 2,
1872 Pastor Wilhelm Löhe passes away
at the age of 63, having influenced the Lutheran Church on five continents.
Events in
the United States
(courtesy of
Wikipedia)
1880’s
Electric lighting, phonographs and gasoline-powered automobiles are commercially
produced. The Washington Monument is built.
1884
First proclamation of eight-hour
workday by the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions.
1884
Statue of Liberty arrives in New York harbor.
1889
Grover Cleveland, 22nd president, is succeeded by Benjamin Harrison.
1889
Johnstown, Pennsylvania flood kills more than 2,200 people and shocks the
country.
1889
Land Run: thousands rush to claim land in Oklahoma. The last open land rush in
Oklahoma is held in 1892
Events
in Michigan
(courtesy
of Michigan History)
1881
Forest fires race across the Thumb, leaving 282 people dead. It was the first
domestic crisis for the American Red Cross.
1887
The Grand Hotel opens on Mackinac Island.
1889
The peninsulas are linked by an underwater telephone cable.
Events in
Bavaria (Germany)
March 1888
The Kaiser dies. Rising militarism in the following years causes many within
Germany, particularly males, to emigrate in order to avoid military service.
Most flee to the United States.
Events in the United States
(courtesy
of Wikipedia)
1890’s
"Gay Nineties" (a term coined in the 1920's) refers to the period's merriment or
frivolity.
1890
Idaho is admitted as the 43rd U.S.
state and Wyoming the 44th. In 1896 Utah is admitted as the 45th U.S.
State.
1891
Thomas A. Edison patents the radio. In 1893 Thomas Edison constructs the
first motion picture studio (West Orange, NJ).
1892
Grover Cleveland is elected president over Benjamin Harrison. 1897 William
McKinley succeeds Grover Cleveland as president.
1892
Ellis Island begins accepting immigrants to the United States.
1893
Stock cash on the NY stock exchange starts a depression.
1893
World's Columbian Exposition (World's Fair) in Chicago opens, fascinating the
country.
1896
Shookum Jim Mason, George Cormack and
Dawson Charlie discover gold in the Klondike (Alaska Gold Rush).
1898
Spanish-American War (April-August): USS Maine explodes in Havana harbor,
cause undetermined. The war results in Cuba's freedom from Spain and
United States' control of Puerto Rico, Philippines and Guam.
Events
in Michigan
(courtesy
of Michigan History)
1896
Charles B. King drives the first auto
(gasoline-powered carriage) in Detroit and Henry Ford introduces his quadricycle.
Events in
Bavaria (Germany)
1891
Payment of old-age pensions begins in Germany
Key Ingredients Exhibit Information
Frankenmuth Chamber of
Commerce
Saginaw Convention and Visitor's Bureau
Page Last Updated:
05/17/07
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