40 years of Deutsches Technikmuseum

We are indulging ourselves! Simply for You.

The Deutsches Technikmuseum is celebrating its 40^th anniversary in 2023. Opened in 1983, this popular family museum is one of the world's leading technical museums. Its 600,000 visitors per year make it one of the capital city's leading museums. Under the slogan "Simply for You." we invite you to an eventful journey through the cultural history of technology. Its 28,500 square meter space is filled with fascinating exhibitions on aeronautics, navigation, railways, automobiles, film technology, computer history, chemistry, pharmaceuticals and much, much more. The museum is a place for critical engagement with the world of technology. An extensive technical-historical library and an historical archive rounds off the museum's program.

Technology can be communally experienced, tried out, understood and discussed in an entertaining way within the museum setting. Current technology-related topics such as climate change, energy transition or future mobility are immersively addressed in our Special Exhibitions. Daily demonstrations, guided tours, workshops and hands-on activities all contribute to the Deutsches Technikmuseum's role as a place for shared experiences. And finally, the idyllic Museum Park with its windmills, blacksmith's shop and brewery is an oasis in the middle of the metropolis.

Rising visitor numbers

In the aftermath of the Corona epidemic the number of visitors has once again clearly stabilized; this anniversary year could even end up setting a new visitor record. In April, for example, we achieved the highest monthly number of visits in our history, which was 80,831. Structurally, too, there are signs of optimization: In 2023 the architectural competition for the new entrance building of the museum will start. This will serve to connect the main building with the Ladestraße area and the Science Center Spectrum and thus offer visitors convenient and central access to all parts of the facility. This year will see a decision made as to what the new entrance building will look like and who will build it.

A wide-ranging program for the anniversary

To celebrate the anniversary, the museum has put together an extensive program of festivities. The special photo exhibition "Signs of Change" with photographs by Olaf Otto Becker documenting climate change in various regions of the world will run until the beginning of December. That subject matter nicely anticipates the large Special Exhibition titled "Thin Ice. Join Us on a Climate Expedition!" that will open at the end of November in the Ladestraße section. Designed primarily for school classes and families, the topic here is climate change at the North Pole. It includes lots of hands-on activities and is tailored entirely to the needs of the target groups.

A grand summer festival in July

The highlight of the anniversary celebration was a grand summer party on July 2. On this admission-free Museum Sunday we put together an extensive program for both young and old. In the Museum Park there was the popular kids' driving circuit and a face painting station and much more. Another highlight was the historic shuttle service between the Südkreuz Train Station and the Museum Park. In addition, our detailed model of the former Anhalter Bahnhof was presented in the engine shed under the motto "Small Railroad, very big!" and the repair café set up shop in the Ladestraße section.

In the Museum Park a girl is riding a red three-wheel-vehicle. — Kids between five and seven years old also had the chance to drive unusual two-, three-, and four-wheeled vehicles over the multifaceted traffic circuit in the Museum Park.
SDTB / M. Jahre

Other activities awaiting the public in the Museum Park included the popular driving circuit with imaginative vehicles, the bicycle workshop including guidance from Rückenwind e.V. and the paint flinging bike from KidBike e.V. There was also an entertaining show with different experiments presented on the Spectrum stage, the blacksmith offered demonstrations, and families could try out face painting, glitter tattoos and a "play street" with many fun options. Visitors were also invited to try their luck on a wheel of fortune to win one of the many prizes from the museum.

A varied program was also on offer inside the museum: Visitors were able to mint a jubilee coin and there were expert demonstrations in the areas devoted to textiles, the printing workshop and papermaking. And last but not least, the Spectrum presented the two program items "Colder than Cold" and "Atmosph' Air".