1975-2015: Ships tell museum (hi)story(s)

The German Maritime Museum opened its doors on 5 September 1975. Exactly 40 years later, a special exhibition honours achievements and presents objects in a new way.

The exhibition "1975 - 2015: Ships Tell Museum (Hi)story(s)" puts some of the ships, ship models and other popular items in the DSM's permanent exhibition in a new perspective. It sheds light on how they got into the museum and asks about their significance for the museum in its founding period and our present. In addition, it offers a glimpse into the future of the permanent exhibition and the museum.

Did you know, for example, that in addition to the three-master SEUTE DEERN and other ships in the museum harbour, the popular paddle steamer MEISSEN was also present long before the opening of the DSM? It was sawed up and built into the building. There is an exciting documentation on this. Figureheads, classics in maritime collections, are illuminated anew in the exhibition with a lot of information, for example through a film: They are more than just decoration. Using a model of the historic polar research vessel GERMANIA, the exhibition presents the museum's future research approach. What lies behind the terms "materiality", "interests" and "perception" becomes very concrete and vivid here. A whole series of outstanding pieces from the permanent exhibition thus tells about the emergence and new perspectives of the German Maritime Museum.

The temporary exhibition is spread over twelve stations inside and outside the museum

The temporary exhibition has an unusual form: instead of being located in a separate area, it is distributed over twelve stations inside and outside the museum. There you can see pictures, old and newly produced films, old newspaper clippings and much more. A special feature: Many things can be experienced without barriers, for example through listening texts, light language or objects that can be touched. Seats for resting during your visit to the museum are provided. There is also plenty opportunity to get involved at all times: Your feedback is welcome. And wherever you would like to deepen your knowledge of the topics of the stations, please feel free to read in the provided reading material. The accompanying programme of the exhibition includes guided tours and lectures. The exhibition and the accompanying programme with guided tours and lectures invite you to refresh and exchange your own memories.