Haus der Geschichte, History museum in Bonn, Germany
Haus der Geschichte is a museum for contemporary history in the Bonn district that presents German postwar life up to the present day across several floors. The exhibition rooms follow a chronological route with thematic focus points that trace political and social life in both German states.
The Bundestag decided in 1982 to establish an institution for presenting German postwar history, after which construction began in 1989. The opening took place in 1994, only a few years after reunification and while Bonn was still the seat of government.
Visitors walk past everyday objects like tin cans, radios and clothing that bring life in divided and reunified Germany within reach. The displays show how ordinary people shopped, listened to music and dressed during decades of political change.
The museum lies on Willy-Brandt-Allee in the Bonn museum quarter and charges no entry fee, allowing a spontaneous visit without advance planning. The rooms are accessible without barriers and the exhibition is open from Tuesday to Sunday, with Mondays closed.
A dedicated cinema hall from the 1950s shows newsreel films that audiences watched in theaters back then, conveying how the media viewed historical events at the time. Beside it stands the railway carriage that federal chancellors used for travels across the country during their terms.
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