Jump directly to the page contents
Museum Island
Schrotttornado aus Elektroschrott in der Ausstellung Elektronik.

Photo: Deutsches Museum | Reinhard Krause

Communication Information Media

Electronics – Smaller, smarter, better

The faster and smaller, the better! Dive into the foundations and development of devices like the transistor, capacitor and diode – and learn how they impact our lives.

Smaller and smarter

Over the past 100 years, electronic components have shrunk to microscopic sizes. More powerful than ever, they are in constant use almost everywhere. In this exhibition, you can follow a circuit through seven thematic areas and discover how the “science of controlling electric current” has become an indispensable part of our lives. Iconic electronic objects such as the original Apple-1, the first LED and the first electromechanical sensor are presented. We also cover the basics of electronics, electronics through the ages and the extent to which these devices have become firmly established in society. In the Production area, you can discover how individual components are made. And last but not least, the huge Scrap Tornado swirls symbolically through our throwaway society in the Raw Materials and Recycling area.

Amateur Radio

Amateur Radio is an experimental radio service and is as old as radio technology itself. The operation of Amateur Radio began at the Deutsches Museum back in 1938; however, it was soon banned during World War II. In 1948, the station at the Deutsches Museum received a broadcasting licence with the call sign DL0DM and the station operates in conjunction with the German Amateur Radio Club to this very day.

find out more

Programme in this exhibition

Detailaufnahme einer Computerplatine des Apple-I.
  • Guided tour

Components of our information society

Resistors, transistors, chips & co. All these components are hidden in electronic devices that have become an essential part of our everyday lives.

  • Deutsches Museum – The Museumsinsel - Electronics Exhibition

  • Demonstration

Amateur Radio

Watch radio amateurs during live broadcasts at our Amateur Radio Station.

  • Deutsches Museum – The Museumsinsel - Electronics Exhibition

When will this event take place?

Discover which activities are taking place by checking our daily programme, which is published at around 9.20 each day. Our programme changes daily and includes guided tours, demonstrations, science shows and hands-on activities for individual visitors and small groups of up to five people. All programme events are held in German. They begin either directly where the activity is set to take place or at a guided-tour meeting point in the relevant exhibition.

Facts and Figures

  • Location: Level 2
  • Exhibition space: 564 m2
  • Exhibits and models: approx. 300
  • Demonstrations and interactives: 11
  • Media stations: 6
  • Dioramas: 3

Special objects in the collection

Polarisiertes Relais von Werner von Siemens

From: Siemens-und-Halske-Aktiengesellschaft <Berlin (West), München>; Siemens, Werner von

Date: 1859

Volksempfänger Mende VE 301 GW

From: Griessing, Otto; Firma Dr. Georg Seibt; Kersting, Walter Maria

Date: 1935

Fotozelle mit Sekundärelektronenvervielfacher, 0532 blau

From: Fernseh GmbH

Date: ca. 1939 - 1945

Radio-Phono-Kombination Braun "SK 4"

From: Max Braun oHG; Gugelot, Hans; Rams, Dieter

Date: 1958

You have specialist questions for our curator?

You might also be interested in:

Kodak Instamatic Camera und Farbfilm

Photography and Film

Here it’s easy to get the picture! Journey through the developments of the last 200 years: with numerous exhibits ranging from the laterna magica to smartphone cameras, you will capture fascinating insights into image technology.

Klaviertastatur „Dulchen und Sohn“.

Musical Instruments

From the Renaissance to the present day: whether it’s the harpsichord, saxophone or synthesiser, here you can explore the most important stages in the development of instruments in the European musical tradition.

Modell einer Belastungsprüfung von Rumpf und Tragwerk.

Modern Aviation

Amidst some 500 fascinating exhibits, including 10 planes and 6 helicopters, discover how and why aircraft can fly so safely – and how technology has evolved since the 1950s.

Satellit „Syncom", USA 1963, erster geostationärer Nachrichtensatellit

Astronautics

Countdown, launch, orbit and landing: with numerous interactive exhibits, your journey from the early days of rocket technology to the Spacelab and satellites is guaranteed to be a truly “universal” experience!

More