Photo: Deutsches Museum
Discover the museum's history
A hundred years in ten display cabinets
Embark on a journey through time and discovery - explore a century brimming with knowledge, transformation and wonder! Ten display cabinets recount significant events, poignant moments and surprising anecdotes from a century of Museum history.
Until 20 July 2025Spread throughout the Collection Building
On 7 May 1925, the Deutsches Museum was opened on the Museumsinsel. To mark our 100th anniversary, we invite you to a very special exhibition: ten display cabinets recount significant events, poignant moments and surprising anecdotes from a century of Museum history. Nine of these cabinets are spread throughout the Collection Building with a tenth located in the Deutsches Museum Library.
Gemälde "Baugelände Deutsches Museum, München", von Désiré Thomassin-Renardt (1858-1933). Photo: Deutsches Museum | A. Kaufmann
Display cabinet 1 – A new building for the Deutsches Museum
Shortly after the Deutsches Museum is founded in 1903, planning for a new Collection Building in Munich begins. The city of Munich provides a small island in the River Isar for this purpose. Gabriel von Seidl (1848–1913) is chosen as the architect. In November 1906, the German Emperor Wilhelm II lays the foundation stone on the Museumsinsel in a grand ceremony. However, before construction can start, the ground has to be stabilised with over
2000 concrete piles. In 1909, construction work finally begins on the Deutsches Museum, one of the first reinforced concrete buildings in Munich.
Level 1: Connection between cloakroom and ‘Historic Aviation’ exhibition
Architekturmodell des Gebäudes Museumsinsel 1925, Maßstab 1:500. Photo: Deutsches Museum
Display cabinet 2 – A new museum building of monumental proportions
This model depicts the Collection Building at its official opening in 1925. By 1911, when the topping-out ceremony was held, the construction of the Deutsches Museum had consumed 60 000 m³ of gravel and sand, 3000 tonnes of iron, 400 railway wagons of lime and 1700 railway wagons of cement. The original plan had been to open the new building in 1916.
However, construction came to a halt with the outbreak of World War I in 1914, and the copper roofing was dismantled and repurposed as war material. It was not until 1920/21 that the project could resume. On 7 May 1925 – Oskar von Miller‘s 70th birthday – the new museum building was officially inaugurated.
Level 1: In front of the entrance to the cloakroom - access via the staircase in the entrance building
(Bomben-)Eisenstück von der Zerstörung der großen Kraftmaschinenhalle, schwere angriffe 1944/45. Photo: Deutsches Museum | C. Ferstl
Display cabinet 3 – A new building for the Deutsches Museum
In the final years of the war, 1944 and 1945, the Deutsches Museum is struck by several thousand incendiary and high-explosive bombs during six separate air raids. The daytime raids by the US Air Force on 12 and 21 July 1944 cause extensive damage to the Collection Building, especially in the Marine Navigation, Aviation, Power Machinery and Locomotive exhibition areas. Consequently, the Museum is forced to close permanently. At the end of the war, 80% of the buildings have been damaged or destroyed. The first special exhibition opens on 25 October 1947, titled »50 Years of the Diesel Engine«. The official reopening of the Museum follows on 7 May 1948, albeit with only the Physics exhibition open to visitors. It is not until 1965 that the Museum’s exhibition space is finally returned to its pre-war level.
Level 0: ‘Energy - Motors’ exhibition / wall side
Schalplatte zur Eröffnung Strassen- und Brückenbau Jahresversammlung 1959. Photo: Deutsches Museum | A. Kaufmann
Display cabinet 4 – Building musical bridges
On 6 May 1959, as part of the annual meeting, the redesigned exhibitions on Road and Bridge Construction, Mineral Processing, and Time Measurement
are opened. The Road and Bridge Construction exhibition spans 600 m² and welcomes visitors for the first time since World War II. A large part of the exhibition space is allocated to bridge construction. As was customary at the time, all those attending the annual meeting receive a gift: donated by Deutsche Philips GmbH, a vinyl record is produced featuring two appropriate and contemporary movie tracks.
Level 0: ‘Bridges and Hydraulic Engineering’ exhibition - at the entrance to the bridge made of glass
Trinkgeldkassette. Photo: Deutsches Museum | K. Mosch
Display cabinet 5 – A Museum to Bring Learning to Life
Today, approximately 50 permanent employees and volunteers work in the Museum‘s exhibition and visitors’ service, offering expert insights and regular demonstrations. Oskar von Miller had always envisioned a museum that would blend fun and learning, encouraging a mixture of »Oktoberfest and popular education«. Right from the beginning, there were demonstrators and attendants in the exhibitions, who could be recogonised by their peaked caps and short coats. Their low wages were heavily criticised, so Museum management provided 60 tip boxes for visitors to show their appreciation.
Level 1: Transition area between the ‘Historical Aviation’ and ‘’Classical Optics' exhibitions
Experimentiertkasten "Abenteuer Elektrizität", Acht Versuche zu historischen Experimenten im Deutschen Museum. Photo: Deutsches Museum | A. Kaufmann
Display cabinet – Electricity Experiments for Teenagers
In 1981, the Museumspädagogische Zentrum (MPZ) in Munich and the Education department at the Deutsches Museum release this electricity experiment kit.
It allows students to carry out eight experiments based on historical physics concepts, including frictional electricity, the magnetic effects of electricity, galvanic cells, and induction.
Many educators have since discovered this unique training opportunity at the Deutsches Museum during professional development events, later incorporating the experiment kit into their physics and technology lessons.
Level 2: ‘Electronics’ exhibition - window side, near the Circuitry Table
Schwanenfeder von Kaiser Wilhelm II. Photo: Deutsches Museum | A. Göttert
Display cabinet 7 – The Emperor’s Visit
On 12 November 1906, Emperor Wilhelm II signed a deed of gift with this swan quill. The original of this document lies in the foundation stone of the Collection Building, which remains in the basement beneath the old entrance hall. On the same day, the Emperor also inaugurates the Museum’s first temporary exhibition in the former building of the old National Museum.
By 1906, machine-made steel nibs have long been the standard for writing. However, on this special occasion, it is considered appropriate to use the more elegant and expensive swan quill.
Level 2: Entrance to the ‘’Image Script Codes‘’ exhibition
Jubiläums-Maßkrug "7. Mai 1925". Photo: Deutsches Museum | A. Kaufmann
Display cabinet 8 – Cheers to the Deutsches Museum!
At the welcome reception hosted by the City of Munich on 6 May 1925, on the evening before the opening of the Deutsches Museum, guests are treated to more than just culinary delights. A subsequent newspaper article covering the celebration reports the following:
»And as the evening drew to a close, the guests – already generously showered with all kinds of souvenirs – received a special keepsake in the form of a beer mug with the inscription, Deutsches Museum, Eröffnungsfeier 1925 (Deutsches Museum, opening ceremony 1925). It had once again been possible to enjoy not only a feeling of Bavarian conviviality, but also the hospitality of the Munich people beside the River Isar.«
Level 3: ‘Agriculture and Food’ exhibition - brewery area
Gedenkteller zum Richtsfest des Deutschen Museums, 5.10.1911. Photo: Deutsches Museum | A. Kaufmann
Display cabinet 9 – Commemorative plate for the topping-out ceremony, 1911
On 5 October 1911, the topping-out ceremony for the museum building takes place. This traditional ceremony marks the completion of the shell of the building. The low-key celebration is held in the still unfinished building, which is decorated with green brushwood. Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin are among the guests. As a lasting memento of the day, each guest receives a plate from the world-renowned porcelain manufacturer »Nymphenburg« bearing the Museum‘s coat of arms and the date. Workers from the construction companies involved in the project are also invited to the ceremony and receive a small monetary gift and cigars.
Level 3: ‘Health’ exhibition - south side, near the operating table
Weißwursttopf mit Deckel. Photo: Deutsches Museum | A. Kaufmann
Display cabinet 10 – A library as an accessible learning space for all
From the very beginning, Oskar von Miller envisions a dedicated scientific and technical library as part of the Museum’s concept. It should appeal to the general public. Construction of the »Studienbau« (study building), as the library was originally called, begins in 1928. The building is designed by the architect German Bestelmeyer.
The library, which opens in 1932, is a reference library. This means that all volumes in the book collection are always available on-site. Today, the Museum Library is considered the largest specialised library in the world for the history of science and technology.
Library: Entrance hall - path to the reading room