German-American Day: The 1683 Voyage That Founded Germantown

German-American Day has a very specific starting point: a ship that landed in Philadelphia.

On October 6, 1683, thirteen families who had sailed from the German city of Krefeld arrived in Philadelphia. They founded Germantown, Pennsylvania, the first German settlement in America. A few years later, in 1688, some of its settlers wrote one of the earliest formal protests against slavery in the colonies.

The first "German Day" was celebrated in Philadelphia in 1883, on the 200th anniversary of the arrival. The custom faded during World War I and was revived in 1983, when President Ronald Reagan proclaimed October 6 as German-American Day for the 300th anniversary. In 1987, Congress approved a joint resolution designating October 6, 1987 as German-American Day.

Millions of Americans trace their roots to Germany, and today the date is a chance to honor that heritage in festivals, museums and family tables across the country.

The date printed on every Germany design in our catalog, October 3, 1990, is the day Germany was reunified.

Thirteen families, one ship, and a town that outlived two centuries of history.

See the Germany design → — or explore the story behind any other country's flag on our free Flag Story Cards page.