Haus Steineck was originally the summer home of the Stein family of Cologne. Until 2008 it was owned by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. "Auf der anderen Seite der Fährstrasse steht das stattliche Haus Steineck, eine frühere Sommervilla der Familie Stein aus Köln. Nach verschiedenen Besitzern war es zuletzt als Gästehaus des Königreich Saudi-Arabien." "About two decades ago [1954?], a non-profit organization incorporated itself for the purpose of furthering international understanding through civic education. To implement its programs, Haus Steineck was acquired and converted in an institute where groups of all nationalities could meet and exchange their views. Ever since, students, functionaries, trade unionists and many other political and professional groups have gathered at Haus Steineck for informal discussions, lecture series and social get-togethers. The impact of its activities has carried the name and reputation of the institute far beyond the geographical confines of Bonn... Haus Steineck and its facilities are superbly suited for accommodating the ECU campus abroad. The three-story building is in a secluded location- accessible only by way of a dead-end lane and guarded by a stand of ancient oak trees on one side and the swirling waters of the Rhine on the other. It was formerly the manor house of a large estate, and its architecture as well as its interior design testify to its regal past." By July 1955, the Junge Union of Germany held a meeting at Haus Steineck, because they could not afford a more expensive location. during these days, the home was called "Jugendhaus Steineck." History Haus Steineck, also known as "East Carolina University- Bonn, West Germany" and "ECU-Bonn" or the "European Study Center" or the "Europäisches Institut Deutschlands" was an experimental school operating under East Carolina University between 1971 and 1973. The location of the school was in the gracious summer home, "Haus Steineck, at 82 Rüdigerstrasse, in Bonn-Bad Godesberg, Germany." The students were enrolled in East Carolina University, and the faculty were visiting professors from the same school. The main purpose of the school was to give formal classroom instruction, as well as site visits to the European countries. As such, each month the school would transport the students to various cities around Europe, where the students would interview artists, businessmen, geographers, historians and politicians in the different countries. "According to Dr. Hans Indorf, coordinator of the European Studies Program, Bonn was chosen as the location for ECU's foreign campus