Erlangen city museum, City museum in Erlangen, Germany

The Erlangen city museum stands in the center of the old town at Martin-Luther-Platz and presents the city's history from early human settlements to the present day. The collection includes tools, household objects, photographs, and documents that show daily life in past eras, plus exhibits on archaeology, industrialization, and modern developments like the university and Siemens.

The museum documents Erlangen's development from early human settlements through the settlement of Huguenots in the 17th century who brought craft traditions, to the founding of the university and modern industrialization with companies like Siemens. These phases show how the city evolved from a local trading center into an urban economic and educational hub.

The museum honors the craft traditions brought by Huguenot settlers, particularly hosiery making, glove crafting, and tanning, which continue to shape how the city and its residents understand themselves today. These industries remain central to local identity and community pride.

The museum is easily reached by car or public transport and offers disabled parking spaces nearby for easier access. It has wheelchair access, services for visitors with visual and hearing impairments, and offers in simple language for those with learning difficulties.

The museum's collection of Huguenot trades is of supra-regional importance: stocking weavers, glove makers, white tanners and carpet weavers. The permanent exhibition fills 650 of the roughly 1,000 square metres, and the courtyard of the Old Town Hall serves as a venue for concerts, readings and film screenings.