“It takes a German to do it.” In the 19th century, that became a
New Orleans saying for accomplishing the near impossible. By
that time, Germans had been a driving force in the community for
over a century. Though time has blurred the significant
contributions of the German people to the Crescent City, there
are many contemporary reminders of the tremendous impact of this
ethnic group on New Orleans culture. From the Garden District’s
stately homes to the quintessential French bread, the city owes
much to its German ancestors. As the largest group of foreign-
speaking people in New Orleans from 1848 to 1900, Germans
entered almost every trade and profession, frequently beating
out the native competition. GERMAN NEW ORLEANS spotlights the
many success stories in the community’s history.