Our history

Founded in March 1997 after the closure of the Amerika-Haus, the nonprofit keeps educational and cultural exchange alive. Manfred Strack was one of its co-founders.

In August, Amerikazentrum moves into the Hamburg America Center at Am Sandtorkai 48, following three temporary locations.

On 21 March, Greg Delawie speaks at an Amerikazentrum opening event documented by the U.S. Consulate Hamburg. The consulate’s photograph preserves a moment of diplomatic exchange.

At the twentieth anniversary, chair Manfred Strack announces his retirement for May. Laura Langford takes on the chairmanship in 2017.

Manfred Strack receives the Bundesverdienstkreuz. The Fulbright Alumni association celebrates his many years of voluntary work for German-American friendship through Amerikazentrum.

A June school report documents class 11H “USA today” visiting Amerikazentrum. With Nora Kaba and Ericka Seifried, students discuss Allen Bourgeois’s Chicago street photography in English, then hear from guest lecturer Cathie Carrigan about U.S. university life and exchange opportunities.

On 4 December, the Walter A. Heinsen exhibition opens at BallinStadt. Amerikazentrum, curator John Heinsen and the museum bring a Hamburg-to-Chicago migration story to life through photography. A family gathering follows on 9 December.

For the thirtieth anniversary of the Hamburg–Chicago partnership, the Heinsen exhibition is presented in Hamburg City Hall from 9 April to 3 May. An individual life story becomes part of the cities’ shared celebration.

ChicagoHamburg30 celebrates thirty years of the sister-city partnership through conversations about the people, history and culture connecting Hamburg and Chicago.

Events now take place at different venues across Hamburg, in collaboration with cultural and institutional partners. The connection continues through the people who make it happen.