The Vantrap Family's Escape: Life After Austria

After escaping Austria, the von Trapp family settled in the United States, where they became known as the Trapp Family Singers. They toured the country and performed internationally, eventually settling in Stowe, Vermont, in 1941. They purchased a farm in 1942 and converted it into the Trapp Family Lodge, which is still owned and operated by the von Trapp family today. The family singing group disbanded in 1957, and Maria von Trapp passed away in 1987, but the youngest and last surviving member of the Trapp Family Singers, Johannes von Trapp, is still alive as of 2025.

The von Trapp family's escape route

The von Trapp family's escape from Austria began with a train journey to Italy, not by hiking over the Swiss Alps as depicted in The Sound of Music. They walked a few blocks from their home to a train station, boarded a train, and crossed the border into Italy.

From Italy, the family travelled to London, and then boarded a ship to New York, where they began a concert tour. They returned to Europe briefly to tour Scandinavia, but were back in the United States in September 1939, just after the outbreak of World War II. They settled in Stowe, Vermont, in 1941, purchasing a 660-acre farm in 1942 and converting it into the Trapp Family Lodge.

Their new home in Vermont

In 1941, the von Trapp family settled in Stowe, Vermont, purchasing a 660-acre farm the following year. They named the farm Cor Unum, Latin for "one heart", and it later became known as the Trapp Family Lodge. The family held daily rehearsals at the lodge, with strong leadership from matriarch Maria, who ran the gift shop until her death in 1987. She is buried in the family cemetery on the property.

The Trapp Family Singers continued to perform internationally, touring over 30 countries, until 1957. The group's unique style included a mixture of liturgical music, madrigals, folk music, and instrumentals. After the group disbanded, Maria, Johannes, Rosmarie, and Maria Franziska went to New Guinea to do missionary work.

The lodge has since been expanded and now includes a working farm, an on-site brewery, apple orchards, and various other amenities. It is still owned and operated by the von Trapp family.

The Trapp Family Singers

The family achieved fame in their native Austria during the interwar period and also performed in the United States before immigrating there permanently to escape the deteriorating situation in Austria leading up to World War II. They became well known as the "Trapp Family Singers" and performed a unique mixture of liturgical music, madrigals, folk music, and instrumentals to audiences in over 30 countries for 20 years.

When Adolf Hitler annexed Austria in 1938, the family decided to leave, first for Italy, as Georg was an Italian citizen by birth. They then went to London and eventually made their way to the United States, where they earned money by performing and touring nationally and internationally. After living for a short time in Philadelphia and then Merion, Pennsylvania, where their youngest child, Johannes, was born, the family settled in Stowe, Vermont, in 1941. They purchased a 660-acre farm in 1942 and converted it into the Trapp Family Lodge, initially called "Cor Unum" (Latin for "One Heart").

Maria von Trapp's memoir

Maria Augusta Kutschera von Trapp was born on a train en route to Vienna on 26 January 1905. Orphaned at a young age, she was raised by a strict elderly cousin. Despite growing up as an atheist, a chance meeting with a priest at college inspired her to become a nun. She entered the Benedictine Abbey of Nonnberg in Salzburg as a novice but struggled with the rules and discipline. Her health suffered due to a lack of exercise and fresh air, so she was sent to the home of retired naval captain, George von Trapp, to tutor his daughter, who was bedridden with rheumatic fever.

Maria fell in love with the von Trapp children at first sight and, in 1927, married the captain, becoming stepmother to his seven children. The family was musical and performed together, becoming well-known as the "Trapp Family Singers". However, when Germany invaded Austria in 1938, the family was forced to flee. They did not escape over the mountains as depicted in the film *The Sound of Music*; instead, they travelled by train to Italy, where Georg had citizenship. From there, they went to London and then to the United States, where they continued to perform and toured nationally and internationally.

In 1942, the von Trapps purchased a farm in Stowe, Vermont, which later became the Trapp Family Lodge. They continued to perform together until 1957, when the group disbanded. After this, Maria, along with her son Johannes and daughters Rosmarie and Maria Franziska, went to New Guinea to do missionary work. Maria returned to run the Trapp Family Lodge for several years. She passed away in 1987 and is buried in the family cemetery on the property.

The von Trapp children's careers

The seven eldest von Trapp children were the inspiration behind the family in The Sound of Music. In the film, their names were changed to Liesl, Friedrich, Louisa, Kurt, Brigitta, Marta and Gretl. In reality, the seven eldest von Trapp children were:

• Rupert (1911-1992)
• Agathe (1913-2010)
• Maria Franziska (1914-2014)
• Werner (1915-2007)
• Hedwig (1917-1972)
• Johanna (1919-1994)
• Martina (1921-1953)

Of these seven, Rupert was already a medical doctor during World War II, and Agathe spent many years as a kindergarten teacher in Maryland. Maria Franziska spent thirty years as a missionary in New Guinea, while Werner became a farmer. Hedwig was a music teacher, and Johanna married and eventually returned to live in Austria. Martina married and died in childbirth.

The three youngest von Trapp children were:

• Rosmarie (1929-2022)
• Eleonore (1931-2021)
• Johannes (born 1939)

Of these three, Rosmarie and Eleonore both settled in Vermont, and Johannes followed his mother by managing the Trapp Family Lodge as a tourist resort.

In 2001, Werner's grandchildren—Sofia, Melani, Amanda and August—formed a band called The von Trapps. They recorded five studio albums, some of which included songs from The Sound of Music, before disbanding in 2016.

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