A century’s gaze greets us. The Bismarckturm Aumühle stands tall. Its presence is commanding. This tower in Aumühle is more than just stone and mortar. It’s a living testament to a bygone era. A time when Bismarck’s legacy loomed large across Germany.
Built between 1898 and 1899 the Bismarckturm Aumühle is one of many towers erected in Germany. These towers celebrated the life of Otto von Bismarck. Emil Specht a wealthy admirer of Bismarck initiated the construction. He owned the Sachsenwald-Hofriede villa colony nearby. The project cost 45000 Marks. The tower designed by Hamburg architect Hermann Schomburgk is 27 meters high. This includes a four-meter-high dome. At its base the tower boasts a 28-meter circumference.
The Bismarckturm Aumühle was not merely a monument. It served a dual purpose. It functioned as a water tower. Beneath the water reservoir on the third floor a Bismarck Museum resided. A Bismarck library occupied the second floor. The tower was open from 6 am until dark. Visitors paid 20 Pfennigs for entry. This helped fund further exhibits.
In 1922 the municipality leased the tower for 100 Marks annually. This was for use by the water and electricity works. Two years after Specht’s death in 1927 the municipality purchased the tower. They lacked the funds to maintain the collections. The exhibits were sold. The library went to the Auer-Verlag in Hamburg. The tower was then closed to the public.
The tower served as storage space. It later housed the municipal library in 1963. A municipal archive was added in 1967. A major renovation in 1987 cost 1.2 million Deutsche Marks. The archive now sits where the water reservoir once was. The library expanded to another floor.
The tower’s flagpole now holds a cellular antenna system. This is jointly operated by all mobile providers. The antenna is cleverly concealed within a plastic tube. The control system sits 15 meters west of the tower. A newly planted hedge hides it. The tower received landmark status in 1999.
The interior walls once featured murals. Only fragments survive. The first floor listed 312 cities where Bismarck held honorary citizenship. Seventy displayed their coats of arms. A golden Reichsadler coat of arms was particularly elaborate. This room also held a bust of Bismarck. Hamburg shipowners gifted it to him for his 80th birthday.
The Bismarckturm Aumühle is more than just a historical relic. It is a reminder of history. It is an enduring symbol of a fascinating past. It is a vibrant part of Aumühle’s identity. Its story continues to unfold even today. A testament to a legacy that still echoes across time.