50 Years, Two Cities, One Connection: Innsbruck & New Orleans

It’s no secret that I’m an American who has called Innsbruck home since graduating from college. I’m originally from Minnesota, and a study abroad partnership with Salzburg first brought me to Austria. That semester in Salzburg guaranteed I was moving back to Austria. Traveling, studying abroad and seeing the world is so important! When I moved to Innsbruck, I had no idea the city was the sister city of New Orleans. Every summer I noticed jazz/blues festivals celebrating the connection, but I never really knew the story behind it. This year, as that partnership celebrates its 50th anniversary, I finally discovered how it all began—and it’s a fascinating reminder of how one person’s vision can connect people across generations and continents.

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Nick Mueller for a drink, to hear his life story, because everything started with Nick! His parents were both from Germany, so as a child he spent quite a bit of time in Germany and Austria. When he started college he knew he wanted to study in Europe, but back then the options were limited. He was able to get into a summer school program through the University of Vienna - didn’t have much of a plan, besides being in Europe. In 1976, he founded the University of New Orleans’ International Summer School in Innsbruck with the belief that studying abroad should be about more than earning academic credits. He wanted students to build friendships, experience new cultures, and return home with a broader understanding of the world.

Today, more than 10,000 students and alumni have participated in the summer school, while over 12,000 students, faculty members, and staff from hundreds of institutions have taken part in the broader partnership. For many, Innsbruck became much more than a place to study—it became a second home. Whereas I cannot fathom how to get a program like this started, for Nick, it seemed to come easily! 

The success of the program led to an official partnership between the University of New Orleans and the University of Innsbruck in 1983. Student exchanges soon expanded to include faculty appointments, research projects, conferences, and academic collaborations that continue today.

The university partnership proved so successful that, in 1995, Innsbruck and New Orleans officially became sister cities. Since then, the connection has reached far beyond higher education. Artists, musicians, researchers, public officials, and students have traveled between the two cities, creating lasting personal and professional relationships. Nick’s networking skills are strong, he seemingly knows everyone! 

If you’ve spent a summer in Innsbruck, you’ve probably heard the sounds of jazz, blues, and brass bands echoing through the old town. Festivals such as the historic New Orleans Festival—and more recently Bridge Beats—are independently organized, but they were inspired by the decades-long relationship between the two cities. It all started with the summer school having parades through the city and musicians coming over as a cultural exchange and that idea was picked up by others and expanded to what we know today! The educational exchange introduced generations of musicians, artists, and cultural ambassadors to Tyrol, helping create a unique celebration of Louisiana’s musical heritage in the heart of the Alps. It’s a wonderful example of how education can inspire traditions that continue long after the classroom.

This summer, alumni from across the United States returned to Innsbruck to celebrate the program’s 50th anniversary. Former students reunited with classmates, professors, and host families, while many introduced their children—and even grandchildren—to the city that played such an important role in their lives. Nick even boasted about the marriages and relationships that started because of this program, truly life changing! The celebration wasn’t just about looking back. It honored five decades of intercultural understanding, lifelong friendships, and countless lives shaped by one shared experience in Innsbruck.

Many people know Nick Mueller as the founding president and CEO of the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. But for thousands of students, his greatest legacy may be the bridge he built between Austria and the United States. And all of this started because he wanted to spend more time over here, and honestly, living here for 18 years, I understand! 

All Photos provided by Nick Mueller & the Summer School Program