Hello, In the census of the year 2000 49 Million Americans claimed to have German roots. The first Germans arrived in 1608 to Jamestown (Virginia) as per the new German Heritage museum in Washington, DC: http://www.gahfusa.org/gahm/gahm.html If you happen to be traveling through Washington, DC, be sure to visit the museum. It is on the 719 6th Street NW. See you all in Mt. Angel, Rosina www.hrastovac.net