Willkommen​
German-American Cultural Center
Welcomes You
About Us
German Festival Events
We have seasonal festivals that celebrate the area's German heritage
Learn More
Upcoming Events
See our full calendar of events and important news
News & Events
Become A Member
Learn about our great membership benefits
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Maifest! Beer, Brats, Pretzels and German Music
on Saturday, May 11! Learn More

The German-American Cultural Center and Museum tells the stories of the German immigrants who founded Mechanikham in 1836 – the village that became Gretna, Louisiana. Those settlers and their descendants forged Gretna’s history.

All Are Welcome

Willkommen! Welcome!

We are passionate about the German-American experience in the New Orleans area.

The Gretna Heritage Festival begins with tapping the ceremonial beer keg.

News & Events​

We believe in gemütlichkeit (German for a feeling of warmth, friendliness and good cheer). The Friends of the GACC meet monthly for a social and program, and we roll out our German Beer Garden to celebrate Maifest, Oktoberfest and other events.

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Museum

At our Museum, learn about the first Germans who settled in Louisiana in 1721 and the immigrants who followed them to the New Orleans area. Enjoy a display of historic photographs of the families, events and landmarks in Gretna and McDonoghville. Admission is free.

Baking pretzels at our meetings and events is a GACC tradition.

Membership

Join the Friends of the GACC for $20 each year, attend our monthly social programs at the Center and receive our monthly newsletter. Many of our members also serve as volunteers for our special events held during the year. Members’ dues support the operations of our museum. Join us!

Genealogy research takes place in our Family Research Room.

Family History

Use our Research Room to learn about your family history. The room has several computers and we maintain subscriptions to the leading genealogy websites. We also have genealogy materials such as local cemetery records.

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About Us

A nonprofit organization, the GACC Museum opened in 1999, thanks to support from the National Park Service, political leaders and citizens. Memberships in the Friends of the GACC help fund our museum and activities.

Large murals decorate the GACC building exterior at 519 Huey P. Long Ave.

Contact Us

The GACC’s Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, at 519 Huey P. Long Avenue in Gretna. Look for the U.S. and German flags out front! Call us at  504-363-4202  and visit us on Facebook.

Family History Research

Do You Have German Roots In Gretna?

Our members dress in traditional German costumes for special events.
Muralist Robert Dafford of Lafayette painted the murals on the building.

Our Center is collecting names and family histories of the original German immigrants who settled in the West Bank area. Contact us if you can share your family’s past or historic photos of Gretna.

Our research center can help you find your Gretna German roots.

join gacc

We Do More Than Festivals

At the GACC, we want to keep our German culture and community alive and vibrant. That means having programs at our membership meetings about the history and culture of our ancestors. We support our community by donating toward church restoration projects, partnering with the City of Gretna for events such as Maifest, and providing a Christmas lunch for Gretna senior citizens. Our members volunteer with organizations such as the Gretna Food Bank and distribute backpacks with essential items for homeless citizens.

Join Our Mailing List

Sign up TODAY to get the latest GACC news on upcoming events.

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News From GACC

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