Objekt des Monats
Jedes Objekt in der Sammlung des Deutschen Auswandererhauses erzählt eine ganz persönliche Auswanderungs- oder Einwanderungsgeschichte. In dieser Rubrik stellen wir Ihnen jeden Monat ein anderes Objekt vor – eine Fotografie, ein Dokument oder ein persönliches Erinnerungsstück.
September 2024
Graphic “The Emigration House in Bremerhaven”, around 1850
Historical Context
On September 12, 1830, the American sailing ship “Draper” enters the port of the newly founded Bremerhaven as the first ship. Later that same year, the first emigrants set out from here for overseas, and soon the transport of passengers becomes an essential factor for Bremen’s trade and shipping.
The introduction of protective laws that establish standards for the transport of emigrants on overseas ships enhances Bremerhaven’s reputation as a boarding port, and the onset of emigration advertising further attracts those willing to leave. However, the developing port city is not at all prepared for the many people who are now arriving. While Bremerhaven has just about 200 inhabitants in 1832, the number of emigrants that year already exceeds 10,000.
At times, several hundred people gather at the port, for whom there are not enough lodging places. Often, those waiting have to be accommodated in makeshift shelters: in the dance hall, on attics, in stalls, and barns. The solution to this accommodation problem is provided by the Bremerhaven merchant and shipper Johann Georg Claussen: from 1849, he has the “Emigration House” built between the boat landing areas at the Geeste and the harbor basin, a hostel for emigrants.
Brief biography of the building
In 1850, the Emigrants’ House was completed, and the first guests moved into their accommodations in the red brick building in April. The multi-story building can provide lodging for up to 2,000 people. The kitchen with a steam apparatus can even prepare 3,500 meals and provide food for sailors and dockworkers in separate dining areas, in addition to the emigrants. The nine dormitories are arranged like ship’s between-decks, meaning there are two rows of bunks along the inner walls, each designed to accommodate three to four people. The free space in between is furnished with tables and benches, serving as a lounge and dining area for the emigrants. In front of each of these dormitories is a washroom. Additionally, the Emigrants’ House offers medical care in hospital rooms and religious support in its chapel for various denominations.
After several successful and lucrative years, changes in transportation links from Bremen to Bremerhaven became a downfall for the Emigrants’ House: With the use of tugboats and finally, from 1862, the opening of the railway line, the journey for emigrants became increasingly shorter and reliably scheduled. This benefits the interests of Bremen’s trade, which aims to keep emigrants in Bremen as long as possible to achieve maximal revenue. The duration of stay in Bremerhaven becomes progressively shorter, a situation that means an economic loss for Bremerhaven and leads to the final closure of the Emigrants’ House in 1865.
Subsequently, the building was used for various purposes, frequently interrupted by periods of vacancy: From 1873 to 1885, it served as a Prussian barrack, and from 1891 to 1974, it housed breweries. In 1985, the Bremerhaven University was established on the site of the former Emigrant House. Various parts of the old building complex and façade sections were integrated into the new construction.
Significance of the Object
An important aspect of migration research is the question of migration logistics: concerning travel routes, types and possibilities of transportation, associated services, boarding, and also the conditions of transport. Migration logistics has had and continues to have an impact on the scale and circumstances of migration. The historical Emigrant House held an important position for emigration through Bremerhaven: It offered waiting emigrants a large number of accommodations at fixed prices, countering the sometimes chaotic conditions and inflated prices. Upon its opening, the Emigrant House was regarded as an exemplary social institution, where thousands spent their last days in Germany.
Do You Also Have …
… a story of emigration or immigration in your family that you would like to share with the German Emigration Center together with the related objects and documents for its collection? Then please contact Dr. Tanja Fittkau by phone at +49 471 / 90 22 0 – 0
or by e-mail at: t.fittkau@dah-bremerhaven.de