Searching for Stories about Living in New SituationS

The first ever Czechs to arrive in America were Bohemians, Augustine Herrman in 1633 and Frederick Philips in 1647, settling in New Amsterdam. By the mid-1800s, Czech immigration to America increased more and more, as they either made contact either in Ellis Island in New York or, less known yet more impactful to the history of Czechs in America, Galveston in Texas.

One lesser known relationship is the friendship between Anthony Dignowity of Kutna Hora and Sam Houston, future founder of Texas and the namesake of Houston. This underscores the importance of Texas in Czech-American history.

Peak Czech immigration occurred during the early 1900s where most landed in Galveston. Although there’s a high population of Czechs in New York, there’s also a high, if not higher, population of Czechs in Texas.

However, immigration to America became a necessity during World War 2, where Czechoslovakia was taken over and terrorized by Nazi Germany, thus they had to flee, if they were able. Further push factors of Communist oppression motivated more Czechs to move away from their homeland into America.

Today, nearly every weekend there’s a celebration related to Czech culture, such as polka dancing and music, food, religious activities and picnics, etc.

If you have any stories about immigration and life coming from Czechoslovakia or the Czech Republic to the United States, or stories of being a first-generation American with Czech Heritage, please tell us below!