Christopher Markley

German Texan Heritage Society Executive Director and Red River Cultural District Board Member Christopher Markley explores the rich history of German immigration to Texas in the 1800s and the equally rich history of the GTHS’s building at 507 E. 10th St. Once the heart of what was known as “Germantown,” it was built as a German free school in 1857 and is one of Austin’s oldest buildings. Markley describes the artistic, cultural, and musical legacy of the German-Texan community, which helped establish Austin’s festive reputation. In 1948, the building was purchased by Kelly Stevens, a gay, deaf artist who continued renovating and adding to the property until bequeathing it to GTHS in 1991. Learn about how GTHS continues to promote German culture in Austin today through language classes and festivals. The podcast is a collection of real stories, history, memories and perspectives from people connected to the cultural district - past and present. Everyone remembers the past a little differently, and some tales include sensitive and explicit topics. These stories don’t always reflect the view, mission or endorsements of our organization - they’re simply part of the rich, complicated history of the place. We’ve done our best to honor each storyteller’s voice, but can’t promise every detail is fact-checked or free from the occasional fuzzy memory. Think of this podcast; heartfelt, imperfect, and full of character. Thanks for listening with an open mind and for celebrating the many layers of our District’s shared heritage. Support the Red River Cultural District at: www.redriverculturaldistrict.org Follow us at: @redriverculturaldistrict The host of The Red River Podcast is: Greg Beets Special thanks to: Richard Whymark Explore Richard and Greg's work at: www.acuriousmixofpeople.com Music for this podcast is provided by: KindKeith KindKeith (they/them), the musical project of Fort Worth native Keith Galloway Jr., is an Alternative Rap/R&B artist known for blending soulful...