German-American Friendship Garden In 1983, President Ronald Reagan created a Presidential Commission to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the arrival of 13 German Mennonite families in Pennsylvania. The Commission decided to create a German-American Friendship Garden on the National Mall. Donations to support the project came from American and West German businesses; in the 1980s, Germany was divided into two countries, West Germany and East Germany. The garden was dedicated on November 15, 1988. 10/05/1983 (Groundbreaking) 11/15/1988 (Dedication) <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=38&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=1980-1999">1980-1999</a>