Understand the past – shape the future The Foundation of Historical Museums Hamburg

The Foundation of Historical Museums Hamburg (SHMH) has been bringing together the museum institutions of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg since 2008, focusing on the city’s history and its surroundings from various thematic perspectives, including national, European, and global contexts. With around 240 employees and approximately 350,000 visitors annually, the foundation is one of the largest municipal and regional history museum networks in Europe.

The foundation includes key institutions such as the Museum of Hamburg History, the Altonaer Museum, the Museum of Work, and since 2021, the German Port Museum, which is currently under development. Other associated institutions include the Jenisch House, the Warehouse District Museum, the Kramer Widows’ Apartment, the Millerntor Guard House, and the Heine House. Additionally, the Hamburg Museum Service is integrated into the foundation, offering a wide range of educational formats and programs.

A central goal of the foundation is to present Hamburg’s multifaceted history–a city significantly shaped by its port, trade, and Europe’s global connections–in a contemporary way. The aim is to explore historical and current connections from multiperspective approaches for a diverse, modern urban society. The foundation emphasizes inclusive and participatory forms of knowledge dissemination that cater to the interests and needs of a wide range of visitor groups.

ORIENTATION AND DIVERSITY

As one of the largest historically oriented museum foundations in Europe, our goal is to provide orientation in dealing with history and the present, as well as to take on and share responsibility for an open, democratic society. We are an active part of urban society and our content and activities extend far beyond the Hamburg metropolitan region. We put relevant topics up for discussion and explore national and international contexts. We want to inspire as many people as possible about history and can have an impact on the wider society through the extraordinary diversity of our museums and their offerings. The authentic experience of objects is the starting point and basis of our work. We create exhibition, thought and discourse spaces that enable participation. We are open to new perspectives, working methods and forms of collaboration. Our offerings should invite people to experience the ability and effectiveness of their own actions. Our buildings should be characterized by a high quality of stay and invite people to linger. They should be accessible with low thresholds and be barrier-free throughout. Diversity and a variety of perspectives in history and the present are of central importance to us. This is reflected in collections, exhibitions and contemporary forms of communication. We want to act in a diversity-sensitive and anti-discriminatory manner in all areas of work. We strive together for sustainability based on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In addition to these objectives, our activities focus on the museum’s core tasks in the areas of collecting, preserving, researching/documenting and exhibiting/communication, in close alignment with the recognized standards of the DMB and ICOM guidelines.

Over the past decades, Hamburg has developed into a culturally very diverse metropolis, shaped by the contributions and impulses of many different actors and communities. As a museum institution addressing the entirety of a diverse urban society, the Stiftung aims to give this diversity greater visibility in its focus, programmes, and organisation in the future. of the most recent additions to the collection of the Museum of Hamburg History is a particularly colourful object: a wig belonging to Olivia Jones, Germany’s perhaps most famous drag queen. Photo SHMH.

The photograph “Platform Track 11” was taken around 1965 by Horst Janke and shows the platform of track 11 at Hamburg Central Station. It belongs to the collection of the Museum of Hamburg History and documents everyday life in the station environment of that time.

Since 2019, the Stiftung Historische Museen Hamburg, together with the Authority for Urban Development and Housing, has been awarding the “Georg Koppmann Prize for Hamburg Urban Photography” as a scholarship. Each year, an artistic-documentary photography project is honoured that deals with urban development and the changing cityscape of Hamburg.

Typical Woman, Typical Man. What does that mean? Gender roles encompass the general, socially accepted expectations regarding how people behave in certain life situations such as family and work. Gender relations are undergoing a continuous process of change within a transforming society. The SHMH strives to convey knowledge about genders and their relations through its exhibitions and programme offerings, as well as to raise awareness of gender issues among its audience.

TREASURES OF HISTORY

Das Gedächtnis der Stadt Eine Hauptaufgabe der Stiftung Historische Museen Hamburg (SHMH) besteht in der Bewahrung ihrer vielfältigen Sammlungen für kommende Generationen. Durch Forschung, Bildungsarbeit und Ausstellungen wird dieses Wissen einer breiten Öffentlichkeit zugänglich gemacht. Dank ihrer Fülle und Qualität bieten die Sammlungen der Stiftung eine hervorragende Möglichkeit, die stadt- und kulturgeschichtliche Entwicklung Hamburgs und seines Umlandes vom Mittelalter bis in die Gegenwart zu präsentieren. Dabei sind die Bestände des Museums für Hamburgische Geschichte, die so attraktive Objekte wie den Schädel des Freibeuters Klaus Störtebeker und andere Schlüsselobjekte zur Hanse umfassen, auf die Entwicklung der Hansestadt bezogen, während die unter ganz anderen Umständen entstandene Sammlung des Altonaer Museums mit seinen Bauernstuben und seinen Schiffsmodellen die besondere Geschichte Altonas sowie die norddeutsche Kulturgeschichte dokumentiert. Die Sammlung des Museums der Arbeit nimmt dagegen die Geschichte von Industrie, Arbeit und Technik im 20. Jahrhunderts in den Blick. Gemeinsam bilden diese Schatzkammern der Geschichte, deren Objekte in immer wieder neuen Ausstellungen präsentiert werden, das Gedächtnis der Stadt Hamburg.

COLLECTION STRATEGY

In 2024, the SHMH presented a cross-house and foundation-wide collection strategy for the first time. This serves to systematize, expand, contextualize and communicate the collections. It also sets the framework for increased structuring and systematic development of collection work within the SHMH.

EXPANSION PLAN

The foundation considers it essential to transparently communicate to the outside world the importance of the field of collecting, which is so important for museums–and which is often less visible to the public and stakeholders in terms of the scope of the tasks, the diverse requirements for dealing with them and the guidelines. Preserving and expanding the collections is a core task of the SHMH according to the Hamburg Museum Foundation Act and in accordance with the orientation towards the museum definitions of ICOM and DMB.

The foundation’s museums display only a small portion of the collections that have been gathered over the decades. The majority of the collection items are kept in storage facilities, where they are maintained and preserved, and are made ready for specific occasions and exhibitions. The foundation employs highly specialized conservators with expertise in areas such as paintings, glass/ceramics, wood/furniture, metal, technical cultural assets, and textiles.

Their expertise and research into the cultural and historical context, manufacturing processes, and changes over time–sometimes supplemented by scientific analyses–inform the conservation and restoration plans for each object. These plans, along with the subsequent actions, are thoroughly documented in writing and photographs. Particularly in the restoration of cultural and historical objects, it is essential to understand the items within their historical context and through the traces of their use to preserve them appropriately.

CREATIVE EDUCATION

The Foundation of Historical Museums Hamburg showcases the results of its research and collection work through its rotating and permanent exhibitions, making these accessible to both professionals and the general public. The diversity of topics and presentations is evident in exhibitions such as “A City Becomes Colorful: Hamburg Graffiti History 1980–1999” at the Museum of Hamburg History, interactive children’s exhibitions at the Altonaer Museum, or guided tours aboard the four-masted barque “PEKING.” Successful special exhibitions like “Pixi. 70 Years of Little Books” (Altonaer Museum), “Conflicts” (Museum of Work), and “Hamburg 1923: The Threatened City” (Museum of Hamburg History) shape the identity of the museums and attract numerous visitors. In addition to collecting and researching, educational programs are a core task of the foundation’s museums. Along with tours and special family offerings in the museums, the Altonaer Museum features the “wunderkammer,” an interactive space for children. Furthermore, the museums offer talks, educational programs for groups, school classes, and adults, as well as special programs in German Sign Language, for people with visual impairments, and tours tailored for individuals with learning difficulties.

RESEARCHING AND PUBLISHING

The Foundation of Historical Museums Hamburg continuously engages in scholarly research on the history of Hamburg and its region. Its publications enrich the exhibition program and provide deeper insights into the collections and the knowledge developed. Catalogs for special exhibitions and the brochure series “Georg Koppmann Prize for Hamburg City Photography”, underscore this work. Since 2015, the foundation has also published its magazine “History Live”, which explores fascinating topics in urban history, showcases ongoing foundation projects, and provides background reports. A fixed part of the programme in the foundation’s venues are events, lectures, and workshops that complement and expand the special exhibitions and projects with current perspectives, discussions, and contributions.

The Foundation Historical Museums Hamburg (SHMH) sees itself as a central actor in the cultural education and history communication of the city. With its various institutions, including the Museum of Hamburg History, the Altona Museum, the Port Museum, the Speicherstadt Museum, and the Museum of Work, it aims to make history vivid, inclusive, and contemporary. SHMH places a special emphasis on diversity and inclusion by involving marginalized groups in the museum’s work and making their perspectives visible in collections and exhibitions. Digitalization also plays an increasingly important role in educational work. Virtual tours, apps, and interactive media stations open new access points to historical collections and make museum content accessible regardless of location.

SHMH places a special focus on diversity and inclusion by actively involving marginalized groups in museum work and making their perspectives visible in collections and exhibitions: for example, under the motto ‘Kunst & Quer’ at the Altona Museum. The aim of this inclusion project is to open up new perspectives on the exhibits to visitors in future as part of specially developed guided tours. These programmes are developed by various artists with disabilities and experienced museum guides.

As part of the redesign of the permanent exhibition at the Museum of Hamburg History, for example, a click tool is being developed that allows visitors to contribute their own stories about the city’s history. In addition, SHMH offers a wide range of educational formats for all age groups. From children’s tours and school programs to workshops for adults, there are offerings tailored to different target groups. Particularly important is the collaboration with schools and extracurricular education institutions to inspire young people early on about historical topics. A key concern is to see visitors not just as passive recipients but as active co-creators of the museum’s content. Participatory projects, digital formats, and interactive exhibitions make it possible to incorporate diverse perspectives and explore new ways of engaging with history.

STRATEGIES FOR THE FUTURE

Together, we are striving towards sustainability based on the Sustainable Development Goals, taking on and sharing responsibility for an open democratic society. According to the motto of “Eleven to Zero – Hamburg Museums Take Action”, a unique initiative was launched in the summer of 2022 by eleven Ham – burg museums, galleries, and memorials to jointly address the topic of sustainability and operational ecology. Supported by the Authority for Culture and Media, sustainability strategies are to be developed and implemented in these institutions nationwide.

CRITICAL RE-APPRAISAL

Colonialism has left numerous traces and lasting effects on Hamburg’s urban history that can still be felt today. Examining the city’s historical role as a hub of German colonial policy is a fundamental task of the SHMH in the context of the city of Hamburg’s decolonization efforts. The foundation’s museums have been addressing the diverse connections between colonialism and Hamburg’s city history for some time now – in the form of exhibitions, events, and artistic collaborations. The decolonization of Hamburg is also being taken into account in the redesign of future exhibitions in the SHMH buildings.

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In the coming years, extensive structural and content-related modernisations are planned in almost all of the foundation’s buildings. These include, alongside the creation of accessible entrances, far-reaching conceptual innovations. With funding from the Budget Committee of the German Bundestag and support from the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, SHMH will undertake various construction and modernization measures in its museums in the coming years. One of these projects is the modernization of the Museum of Hamburg History. The museum is currently undergoing extensive renovation and is therefore temporarily closed. The comprehensive modernization efforts of the building and the redesign of the permanent exhibition are being funded with a total of €101 million. Of this, €83 million comes from the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, and €18 million from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media. With the German Port Museum, SHMH is developing and planning one of the most ambitious museum projects in Europe, which will be implemented across two locations in Hamburg. From 2027 onwards, measures to renovate the Jenisch House and to renew the exhibition and visitor areas will also commence. The Senate and the City Assembly are providing funding of up to 15.5 million euros to support these works.

CREATING A NEW MUSEUM

The new museum will be located at two locations. The first location already exists in the Hansahafen on the site of the socalled 50s warehouse. The second location of the German Port Museum is to be built with a new building in the new district of Grasbrook, where the historic four-masted barque PEKING will also find its final berth as the museum’s central object. For the new building on the Kleiner Grasbrook site, a modern building in a prominent location is planned that is significant in its architectural design and appropriate to the national importance of the museum, and that is to be built with the greatest possible sustainability in mind. The German Port Museum will not be a traditional maritime museum, but rather a “Museum of Globalization” that focuses on the ports of the world as central hubs of global trade.

REDISCOVER HAMBURG’S HISTORY

The extensive modernization process of the museum, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2028, includes numerous structural changes that will significantly improve the museum’s quality of stay, barrier-free accessibility, and energy efficiency. The museum will also have an entrance to the adjacent “Planten un Blomen” park. In future, the catering facilities will also be located here in new premises and on an extended terrace.

PERMANENT EXHIBITION

The museum invites people to reflect on and discuss the city’s history together. In the future, historical events will be linked much more closely with current issues. In addition, exhibition, education and event formats will be more closely interwoven throughout the entire museum. Topics that run throughout history are to be explored with contemporary urban society in an interdisciplinary and multi-perspective manner.