Consulate General of the United States in Hamburg
Encyclopedia
The Consulate General of the United States of America in Hamburg is a diplomatic mission
representing the United States of America to the city of Hamburg and the land of Schleswig Holstein in the Federal Republic of Germany
. The Government of Hamburg
counts the promotion of the then Vice-Consul John Parish to the rank of a consul in 1793 as the establishment of the first mission. The consulate-general represents the interests of the United States government in the German states
of Hamburg, Bremen
, Lower Saxony
, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Schleswig-Holstein
.
was established in 1790 and John Parish was named Vice Consul. In 1793 Parish was promoted to the rank of a consul. In 1897, Hugh Pitcairn
was appointed to the consulate, and in 1903 appointed to be Consul General by President Roosevelt
.
During the participation of the US in the First
and Second World War
all consulates in the German Empire
were closed. On 1 March 1946 the US Government reopened the consulate in Hamburg, and in 1950 purchased the building at Alsterufer street.
In 2007 Ms. Karen E. Johnson succeeded Duane C. Butcher as consul general in Hamburg. As of 2009, 31 consuls and 22 consuls general had served in Hamburg.
, who also designed the Hamburg Rathaus
. From 1933 until 1945 the Nazi Party used the houses as Hamburg headquarters. After the war, the British forces confiscated the houses, and in 1950 the US Government bought them from the heirs of the original owners. Eventually a structure was built between the two houses to create one single building.
After a renovation the consulate moved into the house in 1951. The Consulate General is commonly called das Weiße Haus an der Alster (the White House
on the Alster
) in Hamburg. Since threats against American embassies, 9/11, and a direct threat against the consulate in Hamburg, the security of the US Consulate General in Hamburg was often strengthened. On 1 April 2009, the Hamburger Morgenpost
used the consulate for a April Fools' Day
news, that because of security reasons the consulate will move to a WW II shelter at Heiligengeistfeld
. In the late 1990s portions of what used to be a larger property belonging to and surrounding the Consulate were sold off to raise needed cash for the US Embassy in Berlin. The Consulate is known for placing a large Christmas tree every year on the balcony over the entrance.
is in front of the American consulate in the Rotherbaum
quarter. The railway station Dammtor is nearby to the South.
Diplomatic mission
A diplomatic mission is a group of people from one state or an international inter-governmental organisation present in another state to represent the sending state/organisation in the receiving state...
representing the United States of America to the city of Hamburg and the land of Schleswig Holstein in the Federal Republic of Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. The Government of Hamburg
Government of Hamburg
The government of Hamburg is divided into executive, legislative and judicial branches. Due to the characteristic that Hamburg is a city-state and a municipality in Germany, the governance deals several details of state politics and community politics. It takes place in two ranks; a city-wide and...
counts the promotion of the then Vice-Consul John Parish to the rank of a consul in 1793 as the establishment of the first mission. The consulate-general represents the interests of the United States government in the German states
States of Germany
Germany is made up of sixteen which are partly sovereign constituent states of the Federal Republic of Germany. Land literally translates as "country", and constitutionally speaking, they are constituent countries...
of Hamburg, Bremen
Bremen
The City Municipality of Bremen is a Hanseatic city in northwestern Germany. A commercial and industrial city with a major port on the river Weser, Bremen is part of the Bremen-Oldenburg metropolitan area . Bremen is the second most populous city in North Germany and tenth in Germany.Bremen is...
, Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...
, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost of the sixteen states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Schleswig...
.
History
The first American mission to HamburgHamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
was established in 1790 and John Parish was named Vice Consul. In 1793 Parish was promoted to the rank of a consul. In 1897, Hugh Pitcairn
Hugh Pitcairn
Hugh Pitcairn served as the first United States consul general to Hamburg, German Empire from 1903 to 1908. He was the brother of Pennsylvania railroad magnate Robert Pitcairn and industrialist John Pitcairn.-Early life:...
was appointed to the consulate, and in 1903 appointed to be Consul General by President Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
.
During the participation of the US in the First
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
all consulates in the German Empire
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
were closed. On 1 March 1946 the US Government reopened the consulate in Hamburg, and in 1950 purchased the building at Alsterufer street.
In 2007 Ms. Karen E. Johnson succeeded Duane C. Butcher as consul general in Hamburg. As of 2009, 31 consuls and 22 consuls general had served in Hamburg.
Facilities
In 1882 the larger one of the two houses was built, and in 1893 the smaller building was finished by architect Martin HallerMartin Haller
Martin Emil Ferdinand Haller was a German architect, who designed the Hamburg Rathaus and the building of the Consulate General of the United States in Hamburg, and a member of the Hamburg Parliament.- Early life and family :...
, who also designed the Hamburg Rathaus
Hamburg Rathaus
The Hamburg Rathaus is the Rathaus—the city hall or town hall—of Hamburg, Germany, it is the seat of the government of Hamburg, located in the Altstadt quarter in the city centre, near the lake Binnenalster and the central station...
. From 1933 until 1945 the Nazi Party used the houses as Hamburg headquarters. After the war, the British forces confiscated the houses, and in 1950 the US Government bought them from the heirs of the original owners. Eventually a structure was built between the two houses to create one single building.
After a renovation the consulate moved into the house in 1951. The Consulate General is commonly called das Weiße Haus an der Alster (the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
on the Alster
Alster
The Alster is a right tributary of the River Elbe in Northern Germany. It has its source near Henstedt-Ulzburg, Schleswig-Holstein, flows roughly southwards and reaches the Elbe in Hamburg. In the centre of Hamburg the Alster has been dammed...
) in Hamburg. Since threats against American embassies, 9/11, and a direct threat against the consulate in Hamburg, the security of the US Consulate General in Hamburg was often strengthened. On 1 April 2009, the Hamburger Morgenpost
Hamburger Morgenpost
Hamburger Morgenpost is a daily German newspaper, published in Hamburg in tabloid format.The Hamburger Morgenpost is the second largest newspaper in Hamburg.- History :...
used the consulate for a April Fools' Day
April Fools' Day
April Fools' Day is celebrated in different countries around the world on April 1 every year. Sometimes referred to as All Fools' Day, April 1 is not a national holiday, but is widely recognized and celebrated as a day when many people play all kinds of jokes and foolishness...
news, that because of security reasons the consulate will move to a WW II shelter at Heiligengeistfeld
Heiligengeistfeld
Heiligengeistfeld is an area of Hamburg in the St. Pauli quarter. Since 1893 the funfair Hamburger DOM is held here. In times where this area is not used for exhibitions, circuses or the DOM it is a car park...
. In the late 1990s portions of what used to be a larger property belonging to and surrounding the Consulate were sold off to raise needed cash for the US Embassy in Berlin. The Consulate is known for placing a large Christmas tree every year on the balcony over the entrance.
Neighbourhood
The artificial lake AußenalsterAußenalster
Außenalster or Outer Alster Lake is one of two artificial lakes within the city limits of Hamburg, Germany, which are formed by the river Alster . The size of the Außenalster is 1.6 km²....
is in front of the American consulate in the Rotherbaum
Rotherbaum
Rotherbaum is a quarter of Eimsbüttel, a borough of Hamburg, Germany. In 2006 the population was 16,853.In German, "roter Baum" means red tree. The "th", which in general was abolished in the spelling reform of 1900, was preserved in names...
quarter. The railway station Dammtor is nearby to the South.