Historisches Museum (History Museum), Frankfurt

Historisches Museum (History Museum), Frankfurt (must see)

The Historisches Museum Frankfurt (Frankfurt History Museum) was founded in 1878. Aimed at recounting momentous events that have shaped the city, the museum houses several permanent exhibitions, featuring cultural and other objects relating to the history of Frankfurt - from the early medieval period to the present, as well as provides space for temporary exhibits.

Permanent exhibits are arranged in chronological order, taking visitors through the early medieval times when Frankfurt was a city-state, the late Middle Ages, the 16th-18th centuries, the 19th century, and the city between 1866 and 2001. Special exhibitions are also held regularly.

The HMF moved to its current location – the 12th-century Romanesque Palace, called Salhoff – in 1955. Today, it represents a complex of five historical buildings, plus a new exhibition hall and a small administration building replacing the extension built in 1972.

At the entry, visitors are greeted with a portrait of Charlemagne. Further inside, the museum treasures include the Saint Anne altarpiece from a Carmelite church, the Heller altarpiece by Albrecht Durer from a Dominican cloister, and a sculpture depicting the reconciliation of Emperor Otto I with his brother Heinrich by Alfred Rathel. Major attractions within the museum are the three scale models of the city made by the Treuner brothers: one showing medieval Frankfurt, the other showing the city after the 1944 bombardment, and a third modern postwar model of Frankfurt.

The Historisches Museum also has an interactive space for children, a large collection of porcelain, and a unique collection of comic books.

Why You Should Visit:
The museum marries old and new in its building and proves Frankfurt's importance as an international cultural hub.
All exhibits provide descriptions in German & English; the interactive digital info is a state of the art.
Sharp new connected buildings are a joy to be in; also, there is an awesome cafe with both inside & outside seating.

Tip:
Allow plenty of time if you're a first-time visitor, as the layout of the place can sometimes get confusing.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Frankfurt. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Historisches Museum (History Museum) on Map

Sight Name: Historisches Museum (History Museum)
Sight Location: Frankfurt, Germany (See walking tours in Frankfurt)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Frankfurt, Germany

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Shopping Streets

Shopping Streets

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"Frankfurt is a shopping paradise - if you're a bird!" they say. This is a humorous way of saying that Frankfurt...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Historical Churches Walking Tour

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Old Town Walking Tour

Old Town Walking Tour

The German city of Frankfurt, also known as Frankfurt am Main, has a long and complex history, spanning more than a thousand years. The Romans established a military camp called "Nida" in the area that is now Frankfurt, on the northern bank of the River Main, in the 1st century AD.

The town itself was founded by the Franks, a Germanic tribe, in the 9th century. Its name comes from...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Jewish History Walking Tour

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The history of Jews in Frankfurt dates back almost 900 years, which is more than in any other German city. Attesting to this fact alone is one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries in Europe, the Old Jewish Cemetery of Frankfurt, first recorded in the 12th century.

At some point, the city was even referred to as "Jerusalem of the West", highlighting its importance as a center of Jewish life...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles

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