Established in 1906 the Freiherr-vom-Stein-Gymnasium stands before you. A testament to Berlin’s rich history. This impressive school wasn’t always located here. Its journey began much earlier. In fact Spandau a separate garrison town then lacked cultural facilities. Oberbürgermeister Friedrich Koeltze envisioned a school. However money and other issues delayed the project. Repeated attempts to build a Realschule in the Moltkestrasse now Galenstrasse failed. Finally in 1905 permission was granted. The transformation cost 40000 Marks. That’s roughly 309000 Euros today. A new gymnasium was added to the existing building.
On February 3 1906 the school opened its doors. Initially it was a boys’ Realschule under Director Richard Neuse. The school later expanded. It acquired a second building at Carl-Schurz-Strasse 59. This was the former building of the Spandauer Kant-Gymnasium. It was nicknamed the ‘branch office’ because of its distance from the main building. This building along with the Lilly-Braun-Schule is a listed monument. It’s a fascinating story of adaptation and growth.
For years the school operated across two sites. The main building housed older students. The branch building held younger students. This changed in 2017. A new building ‘Gebaude C’ opened. This consolidated all grade levels under one roof. The Freiherr-vom-Stein-Gymnasium is more than just a school. It is a living archive of Spandau’s development. The school’s name honors Heinrich Friedrich Karl vom Stein. He was a Prussian statesman known for his significant reforms. These reforms were crucial in overcoming the fragmentation of Germany in the 19th century. The Freiherr-vom-Stein-Gymnasium continues to educate and inspire generations. It carries on a proud legacy in the heart of Spandau. It’s a place of learning a hub of community and a landmark in Berlin’s history. It’s a place with a story to tell a story we’ve just begun to explore.