State Historical Society of Iowa

Sauerkraut Day, September 7, 1912

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Crowd on town street during Sauerkraut Day Celebration, waiting in line for the celebrated food.
Courtesy of State Historical Society of Iowa, Shirley, William, 7 September 1912

Description

A large crowd amasses on the town street during Sauerkraut Day in 1912 and are waiting in line for the celebrated food of finely cut cabbage. The town shown actually changed its name from Germania, Iowa, to Lakota, Iowa, in 1917 due to anti-German sentiment created by World War I.

Source-Dependent Questions

  • How did immigrants continue cultural traditions when settling in America?
  • How do festivals like Sauerkraut Day help immigrants maintain their cultural identity?
  • How might native born Americans respond to immigrant festivals?