About Us

Who is the GACC

You Are Always Welcome

Honoring the German immigrants who founded Gretna, Louisiana, in 1836 and their contribution to Louisiana’s history is the mission of the German-American Cultural Center and Museum.

The GACC was established in 1999 when the National Park Service developed our free museum. More than 300 members of the Friends of the GACC volunteer at our community events and help support the operations of our museum.

Sharing German Heritage

Gretna’s roots came from the German families who have lived and worked here for more than 185 years. They established businesses, organized volunteer fire departments, ran dairy farms and served as civic leaders. The GACC honors the memories of those pioneers through community leadership and festivals that celebrate German foods and culture.

Preserving German History

The exhibits in the GACC Museum trace the history of German immigration to Louisiana that began in 1721 and follow the paths of several waves of German immigrants to Louisiana and eventually to the West Bank of the New Orleans area. You can learn about the growth of German cultural organizations and churches, and the impact of the world wars on these settlers.