Dive into a world where shrunken heads meet maritime treasures. We are standing before Harrys Hamburger Hafenbasar. This isn’t just any museum. It is a place where you can actually touch and even buy the exhibits.
Harrys Hafenbasar began with a former sailor named Harry Rosenberg. In 1952, he opened a stamp and coin shop in St. Pauli. Harry decorated his shop with souvenirs from his voyages. He also used items from Captain Haase’s pub. Haase’s pub displayed curiosities from around the world until his death in the early 1950s.
Customers were more interested in Harry’s odd decorations than stamps or coins. So, in 1954, Harry started buying curiosities from other sailors. This helped them supplement their income. He named his shop Harrys Hamburger Hafenbasar. He sold the items he displayed. This was a transformation from a simple shop to a museum and curiosity shop.
Harrys Hafenbasar gained fame. News spread that he bought, displayed, and sold real shrunken heads. The Hafenbasar became a must-see in Hamburg guidebooks. The business expanded. At its peak, it had three locations spanning 2,600 square meters. These spaces were divided into 26 rooms.
In 1996, Harry retired. He passed the business to his daughter Karin. The neighboring Erotic Art Museum needed the cellar space that the Hafenbasar had occupied for 40 years. The move was just a few doors down. However, moving tens of thousands of items was difficult. A newspaper appeal brought 200 volunteers. They formed a human chain. On August 24, 1996, they moved the exhibits to the new location.
Another move came in 1999 due to renovations. The temporary location was a factory hall. It was located at the end of Große Freiheit. The move was supposed to last only a year. Renovations took longer than expected. New space had to be found. Harry Rosenberg passed away after a long illness in October 2000. The future of the Hafenbasar was uncertain. A marketing agency and local artists helped raise awareness of the museum in 2003.
Karin Rosenberg passed away unexpectedly in April 2011. Her 18-year-old daughter, Kim, continued the business. The financial situation was still tough. In September 2011, Dr. Gereon Boos took over. He was a former ENT doctor. He admired Harry and Karin Rosenberg. He wanted to preserve the museum’s unique collection.
The lease was terminated at the end of 2012. The Hafenbasar had to move again. On September 26, 2013, the Hafenbasar reopened at Sandtorkai in HafenCity. It is now housed in the hull of the swimming crane Greif. The crane contains 332,428 objects in 33 themed chambers.
Dr. Gereon Boos passed away in March 2014. Before his death, he established the Hafenbasar e.V. association. In October 2017, the Dr. Gereon Boos / Hafenbasar foundation replaced the association.
Today, Harrys Hafenbasar continues as a museum and curiosity shop. It is a testament to Harry Rosenberg’s vision. The museum offers a fascinating glimpse into maritime history. It also shows the allure of strange and wonderful objects collected from around the world. Since 2017, the museum operates as a non-profit to maintain Harrys legacy. The entry fee is even deducted from the price if you buy something for more than 10 Euro.