1783
As one of the first states to do so, Bremen recognizes the United States of America after the declaration of independence. Beginning of direct trade between Bremen and North America.
1784
Among the first to emigrate directly via Bremen to the United States is Johann Friedrich Amelung, who founds, near Baltimore, the later famous "New Bremen" glass manufactory.
1794
By order of George Washington a US consulate opens in Bremen -- it is one of the first US representations on the European continent.
1815
Bremen opens a consulate in New York. More consulates follow in other cities (e.g. 1821 in Baltimore, 1827 in Philadelphia and Boston).
1830
The newly built port in Bremerhaven is completed. The first ship to dock here is the American sailer "Draper".
1847
With the arrival of the "Washington" at Bremerhaven the first direct steam ship line between America and the European continent, operating on a regular basis, is established.
1854
The merchant Carl Melchers, from Bremen, founds a trading company in Hawaii. His office building is the first brick house ever to be built in Honolulu.
1859
The shipping and trading company founded by Johann Hackfeld from Bremen in Hawaii becomes one of the largest companies operating in the whole pacific. Hackfeld also founds the Chamber of Commerce in Honolulu.
1890
During the large "Trade and Industry Fair" in Bremen the first electric streetcar with overhead contact wires in Germany is installed with technology from the US-American Thomson Houston Company (later to become General Electrics).
1890
John D. Rockefeller founds together with Franz Schütte, Carl Schütte and Wilhelm Riedemann from Bremen the "Deutsch-Amerikanische Petroleum AG". Both sides hold 50% of the company shares.
1906
The "Kaffee Handels AG" is founded by Ludwig Roselius, the inventor of decaffeinated coffee. Under the label "Sanka" his products are also a success in the United States. Between the two world wars the company becomes the largest coffee-trading company in the world.
1913
With 240,000 people per year, the peak of the emigration wave to the United States via Bremerhaven is reached. By the end of the 1930s the total number will sum up to over 7.1 million.
1928
One year after Charles Linbergh’s first Atlantic crossing by plane from west-to-east, Günther von Hünefeld, Hermann Köhl and James C. Fitzmaurice, on board the "Bremen," complete the first east-to-west Atlantic crossing by plane.
1929
The steam ship "Bremen" from the shipping company "Norddeutscher Lloyd," completes its maiden voyage from Bremerhaven to New York with a traveling time of 4 days, 17 hours und 42 minutes and is awarded the "blue band" for the fastest Atlantic crossing by ship.
1930
Another steam ship from the "Norddeutscher Lloyd" fleet -- the "Europa" -- establishes a new speed record with a travel time of 4 days, 17 hours und 6 minutes and is also awarded the "blue band".
1934
The "Comedian Harmonists" travel via Bremerhaven to the United States and celebrate a successful début in New York and many radio performances.
1941
The singer Lale Andersen from Bremerhaven becomes world-famous with her song "Lili Marleen". After the war she tours in the United States performing many concerts.
1946
The first large shipment of 35,700 CARE packages for Germany arrives with a US-American ship at Bremen. Bremen becomes the headquarter for CARE-Germany.
1947
The American military governor, General Joseph T. McNarney, reestablishes Bremen as an independent "Land" (state) in Germany.
1958
Elvis Presley is recived by thousands of his fans while he coming ashore in Bremerhaven to fulfill his military service in Germany.
1961
The Kellogg Company buys the "Reis- und Handels AG" and builds a new factory in Bremen that produces for the whole German market.
1966
The first container, from the company Sea-Land, arriving in Germany is unloaded in the port of Bremen. In the following years Bremerhaven becomes one of the most important container-ports in Europe.
1983
The orbital laboratory "Spacelab" built by ERNO in Bremen is launched into space with an US-American space shuttle. In total it will complete 22 missions.
1999
In cooperation with Rice University from Houston Texas the new private "International University Bremen", now "Jacobs University" is founded.
2000
With a yearly amount of 1.1 million vehicles, Bremerhaven becomes the most important European car-shipping port. Most of the vehicles are shipped to the United States.
2003
The "Bremen United States Center" opens its doors for business in the World Trade Center in Bremen.
2005
Scheduled start operation in the International Space Station, the "Columbus" orbital laboratory built by EADS Space Transportation in Bremen is to be launched with an American space shuttle.
2007
Bremens harbours rank first in container traffic between Germany and the US. Over one and a half million standard containers are shipped between the two countries each year.
