Starting in the 1800's, German-speaking explorers and immigrants made their way to California. Settling in Santa Clara Valley, they made enormous contributions to the development of the area, founding the San Jose library, helping create the fire department, designing a modern sewer system, and building over 500 of San Jose's major business and civic structures. The City Hall, the Hall of Records, Lick Observatory and the old Agnew's Hospital were all created by German pioneers.For years, local historian Maria Brand has been searching through local libraries and archives to compile the stories of local German-speaking immigrants. With the help of many local curators and the support of the Sourisseau Academy at the History Department of San Jose State, this fascinating story has finally been published. This 325-page treasure with dozens of colorful photographs is an important local history and will change local perception of the development of San Jose.

I believe many immigrants can identify with this book, because we all share the experience of being uprooted, having to learn a new language and losing our children to a culture we can never fully embrace. This, we all share, regardless of what continent we call home. In addition, if you come from a country that America is or has been at war with, it is difficult to endure the constant propaganda against your country of origin, where many of your relatives may still reside. I have written about the pain I felt every time I heard the word “Nazi” applied to all of my people. To relieve my frustration, I tried to document the way I grew up in the West Muensterland, near the Dutch border, how I met and married my husband in Hawaii, and our life together including raising our two sons. I have written about our successes and failures, our anxieties and joys, and growing old together. I have included letters to senators and congressmen regarding current issues and their replies. You will also read how my husband and I promoted the contributions Germans in America have made for more than 350 years. For all this effort, we where honored by the “German American Heritage Foundation of the USA” in 2003, as well as by the German Government in the year 2000. I lost my partner and best friend of 45 years in 2005. I continue my efforts and research via the internet. My web-site is listed on the back cover of the book. I am grateful to America for broadening my horizons and opening paths I would not have dared to walk on in Germany. I also believe America was blessed by having so many Germans come to these shores. Maria Brand

100 Things to Do in San Jose Before You Die guides you through the weird, wild, wonderful sights of Silicon Valley’s capitol. With a helpful and humorous voice (grown organically out of the dot com dynasty) this book will allow you to not only find, but fully embrace your inner geek as you pioneer your own Josean form of Manifest Destiny. Provided within are secret hacks to the culinary legacy represented by the diverse population of the region (as well as all the trendy, new go-to, foodie finds), tips on the tremendous art and cultural offerings around every corner, and scores of ways to get you off the grid and take unique advantage of the more than 300 days of sunshine a year. Whether a first time visitor, a regular traveler to the area or a local, new quests await you in the pages of this Manual-of-Awesome. Let “100 Things to Do”… help you find the way to the San Jose you never knew existed. .