BerlinZeit: The city makes history!

From December 1, the Stadtmuseum Berlin will be presenting its newly revamped permanent exhibition "BerlinZeit - Die Stadt macht Geschichte!" at the Ephraim-Palais Museum.

Das Brandenburger Tor mit der Quadriga steht als eines der bekanntesten Berliner Baudenkmäler stellvertretend für die Stadt Foto von Philip Myrtorp auf Unsplash – Das Brandenburger Tor mit der Quadriga steht als eines der bekanntesten Berliner Baudenkmäler stellvertretend für die Stadt

In the much-visited Nikolai Quarter, the exhibition offers visitors from Berlin, Germany and around the world an entertaining tour of discovery through the centuries and at the same time a comprehensive overview of the sometimes revolutionary events in this city. It takes visitors on a journey through time from the founding of Berlin to the present day and beyond, highlighting formative periods and years. Berlin is told in an easily understandable and compact way using numerous original objects as a city of diversity and openness, but also as a city of ruptures and radical change.

The redesigned and conceptually enhanced permanent exhibition is characterized by three main themes: urban development through growth and destruction, tolerance and persecution, rule and co-determination. The second floor of the museum is dedicated to the period from the creation of Berlin eight hundred years ago to the November Revolution of 1918. The second floor looks at Berlin as it grew into a metropolis, from its expansion into the surrounding area in 1920 to the present day.

The narrative arc within these time periods is chronological, but visitors can decide for themselves where they want to immerse themselves in the city's eventful history. Various media and activation stations offer access to selected content in a variety of ways - including interviews with Berlin players from the 1990s in politics, business and culture. Other stations delve deeper into topics such as anti-Semitism, women's rights and gay and lesbian emancipation. A bilingual audio guide accompanies the exhibition.

Background

The reason for the presentation of "BerlinZeit" in the Museum Ephraim-Palais is the extensive renovation of the Märkisches Museum, the traditional location of the Stadtmuseum Berlin for permanent exhibitions on Berlin's history, which has been going on for several years. Once the modernization of the neighbouring Marinehaus has been completed, both buildings will form the heart of a museum and creative quarter in Köllnischer Park in a few years' time.

Supplementary offers

At various points of "BerlinZeit", open spaces will provide room to show further diverse perspectives on Berlin's diverse urban society in the future. These open spaces will also be used to develop a separate program of events to accompany the exhibition. The third floor of the Museum Ephraim-Palais offers additional space for supplementary presentations or independent special exhibitions.

The permanent exhibition will make the Nikolai Quarter the central location for exploring Berlin's city history: Directly opposite the Museum Ephraim-Palais, the Museum Knoblauchhaus is dedicated to Berlin life in the Biedermeier period. Just a few meters away, the Museum Nikolaikirche focuses on the medieval building and the beginnings of Berlin.

Translated with DeepL

Runtime: from December 2023

Takes place here:

• Museum Ephraim-Palais