The German Port Museum

Hamburg is about to get a new museum: the Hamburg Historical Museums Foundation (SHMH) is developing and planning one of the largest new museums in Europe, the German Port Museum. This latest addition to the city’s array of museums offers a view of the world from the perspective of Hamburg’s port. Trade, supply chains, global division of labor, modern ports, container terminals and shipping are all inextricably linked. With 90 percent of world trade being transported by sea, the world’s ports are the linchpins of global trade. The German Port Museum is therefore also a museum of globalization. Its primary aim is to make the international exchange of goods and services tangible and easier to understand, while illustrating the central role international maritime trade plays in modern life. The new museum will be located at two sites: the first at the 50er Schuppen, former warehouse sheds combining history and authentic charm in the Hansahafen area, while the second will be housed in the new Grasbrook district, where the historic four-masted barque PEKING will also drop anchor for the final time.

At the heart of the permanent exhibition‘s educational mission is the task of presenting the German seaports and inland ports in their role as hubs of globalization, how they evolved and how their role has changed through time, in a way that is vividly tangible for visitors. Some of the most important elements of the German Port Museum’s scientific and educational work consist of linking Germany’s ports with the rest of the world, past and present, integrating global historical perspectives and phenomena, as well as findings from interdisciplinary, international research on globalization and innovation. Topics will include national and international trading networks, the history of German seaports and inland ports, cargo handling and transport chains, working conditions, the “port legend”, the port as a place of social and cultural processes, colonialism, migration, infrastructure and maritime technology, shipbuilding and maintenance, science, tourism, the environment, sustainability and the future of ports.

The planned museum building at Grasbrook demands a high standard of architectural design. The challenge is to create an inviting, open and modern building of architectural significance befitting its  national importance at such a prominent location – sustainably and within budget. To this day, Shed 50A on the Bremer Quay remains a symbol of a golden era of maritime cargo handling in Germany. The immersive nature of this authentic location will complement the educational offerings at the Grasbrook site. These will include exciting hands-on exhibits, an immersive “Schaudepot” activity shed featuring guided tours and demonstrations by volunteers, live reenactments of port handling, as well as the already well-established “Hafenmanufaktur” maritime craft works.

The main attraction of the German Port Museum will always be the four-masted barque, PEKING. An object of significant historical interest, the PEKING is one of the most outstanding surviving relics of Germany’s maritime past. It bears testimony to the history of German overseas trade and will serve as an authentic educational venue for visitors from all over the world. Built in 1911 by Blohm & Voss for the Hamburg shipping company Laeisz, the PEKING, with its steel hull, four masts and a technical elegance typical of all Flying P-Liners, was one of the last large cargo sailing ships still able to compete with steam ships at the beginning of the 20th century thanks to its speed, safety and precision. Its rich history and its role in global trading routes will help us gain a deeper understanding of today’s complex international trade networks. The PEKING will be preserved as a “living museum ship” in which maritime skills and the knowledge surrounding this intangible cultural heritage will be passed on to future generations