Why They Came: Building Central Illinois
Why They Came: Germans Along the Illinois River
10/6/2026 | 1m 51sVideo has Closed Captions
German immigrants found opportunity in Peoria and built a cultural legacy that endures.
Seeking land, freedom, and opportunity, German immigrants helped shape Peoria’s farms, industries, and neighborhoods. Through churches, newspapers, singing groups, and community celebrations, they preserved their traditions while building a new home along the Illinois River. Explore a heritage still visible in Central Illinois today.
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Why They Came: Building Central Illinois is a local public television program presented by WTVP
Support for Why They Came is provided by the Gilmore Foundation.
Why They Came: Building Central Illinois
Why They Came: Germans Along the Illinois River
10/6/2026 | 1m 51sVideo has Closed Captions
Seeking land, freedom, and opportunity, German immigrants helped shape Peoria’s farms, industries, and neighborhoods. Through churches, newspapers, singing groups, and community celebrations, they preserved their traditions while building a new home along the Illinois River. Explore a heritage still visible in Central Illinois today.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Where to Watch Why They Came: Building Central Illinois
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship(bright music) (bright music fades) - [Narrator] In the mid 1800s, thousands of German immigrants came to Illinois looking for a better life.
Many were escaping crowded towns, limited farmland, political unrest, and economic hardship back home.
Illinois offered something different, fertile land, growing cities, and the promise of freedom and opportunity.
Peoria became an especially attractive place to settle.
Located along the Illinois River, it was a busy center for trade, farming and industry.
German families found work as farmers, craftsmen, business owners, brewers, and laborers, helping the community grow and prosper.
By the time Peoria County was founded, German immigrants comprised at least one third of the fledgling county's population.
In addition to their skills, German immigrants brought their culture with them.
Churches, singing groups, gymnastics clubs, social halls, and festivals helped German immigrants preserve their language, traditions, and sense of community.
Peoria's first German newspaper began publication in 1852 and thrived until 1915.
(field gun blasting) Today, that heritage is still visible in Peoria's German-American organizations, music, food and celebrations.
The story of why Germans came to Peoria is really a story of people searching for opportunity, and building a lasting home along the Illinois River.
(soft music)
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Why They Came: Building Central Illinois is a local public television program presented by WTVP
Support for Why They Came is provided by the Gilmore Foundation.