German-American Day commemorates the arrival of the first large group of German immigrants aboard the sailing ship ‘Concord’ on 6 October 1683 on the coast of what is now the United States, an event which, 300 years later, provided the occasion for this proclamation. Following approval by Congress, the day has been officially observed since 1987 with appropriate ceremonies and activities, and, in keeping with its significance, is honoured annually by a proclamation from the incumbent US President.
Against the backdrop of the unusually numerous and diverse links between the Saarpfalz district and the USA, the themed tour ‘American Traces in Homburg: Between Black, Red and Gold and the Stars and Stripes’, taking place on the eve of German-American Day 2026, sets the scene for this special day celebrating German-American friendship. During the tour, visitors can learn a great deal about the traces left behind by Americans in the Saarpfalz and by emigrants with links to the Saarpfalz in the United States. A regional perspective on these astonishingly multifaceted traces is all the more interesting in 2026, when the USA celebrates its 250th anniversary.
Beyond these close historical ties, the tour also explores current German-American relations, such as the partnership between the Saarpfalz district and Henrico County (Virginia), which has been in place since 1997. Furthermore, on this discovery tour tracing the history of German-American democracy – from the Tree of Liberty to the Stars and Stripes, from barricade fighting to a new homeland – it becomes clear just how astonishingly closely ‘black, red and gold’ and the ‘Stars and Stripes’ are linked.
The meeting point is the ‘Freiheitsbrunnen’ in Homburg (on the corner of Eisenbahnstraße and Am Rondell) on Monday, 5 October at 5 pm. The themed walking tour ends at around 6.30 pm at the Christian von Mannlich Gymnasium on Hiltbrandtstraße, where you can see the wall relief ‘Wooden Wave’ by the artist Martin Steinert, which was created in collaboration with American and German pupils. Thanks to the kind support of the German-American Institute (DAI) Saarland, the Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Embassy of the United States of America, participation in this event – which will be held in German – is free of charge. No registration is required. Subject to change.