“What is already normal?” This is the captivating question that the Historisches Museum Bremerhaven poses. It invites us to explore the intricate tapestry of Bremerhaven’s past. The Historisches Museum Bremerhaven stands proudly. It is located between the Alte Geestebrücke and the Kennedybrücke. The museum showcases the rich history of Bremerhaven and its surroundings.
Since 1991, this institution has been a cornerstone of Bremerhaven’s cultural landscape. Before that it was known as the Morgenstern-Museum. The Historisches Museum Bremerhaven evolved from humble beginnings. In the late 19th century, the Männer vom Morgenstern began collecting archaeological and folklore objects. Jan Bohls arranged the prehistoric collection in Lehe in 1896. He displayed them publicly. He was the collection’s first curator.
In 1902, Geestemünde acquired the collection. The Museum für Heimatkunde was founded. It opened in 1906 in the Geestemünder Höheren Mädchenschule. The museum expanded to include pottery, tin, furniture and traditional jewelry. In 1909, the museum moved to the Handelskammer zu Geestemünde. It was celebrated as the Städtisches Morgenstern-Museum in 1910. Friedrich Plettke became the honorary museum director.
The museum’s collection was evacuated in 1942 due to the war. In 1944, the museum building was destroyed. A fire in the Marschenhaus destroyed important items in 1946.
The remaining items were displayed in the Stadthaus IV. This was thanks to Johann Jacob Cordes. The collection included folklore and prehistoric exhibits. Exhibits from seafaring, shipbuilding, and fishing were added in 1950. In 1961, the museum opened new rooms in the Kaistraße. It now had three sections. These were prehistoric, maritime history and folklore.
The maritime history collection was given to the Deutsches Schifffahrtsmuseum in 1973. Bremerhaven citizens founded the Förderkreis Morgenstern-Museum. This support led to a new building for the city museum. The name changed to Historisches Museum für Bremerhaven und Umgebung/Morgenstern-Museum.
Alfred Kube became the museum’s director in 1989. A new concept was developed. The new building was opened in 1991. The building’s five gables resemble the former fish halls. The curved shape mirrors the Geestebogen. In 2004, the museum’s name was changed to Historisches Museum Bremerhaven. Since 2010, it has been part of the Route der Industriekultur.
The Historisches Museum Bremerhaven’s exhibits showcase Bremerhaven’s history. This history spans from the first traces of human settlement to the 1960s. The museum also operates the museum ship FMS Gera. It serves as a unique floating museum for deep-sea fishing history. The city bought the ship in 1990.
The Deutsche Auswanderer-Datenbank is another key project. Bremerhaven was a major emigration port. The database records people who left Europe via German ports. Visitors can search the database at the Historisches Museum Bremerhaven.
The Förderkreis Historisches Museum Bremerhaven supports the museum. The Förderkreis finances acquisitions, exhibitions, research and the German Emigration Database.
As you leave the Historisches Museum Bremerhaven, consider the countless stories. These stories shaped Bremerhaven. These stories are preserved within these walls. They echo through the city’s streets. They remind us of the past shaping our present.