Have you ever imagined being immortalized in stone, your features captured for eternity? This is the story of August-Eisenhart-Denkmal, a tribute to a man who left an enduring mark on Potsdam. This sandstone bust stands proudly, commemorating August Friedrich Eisenhart, a successful businessman, philanthropist, and city elder. He was born precisely in this location, a testament to a life dedicated to serving his community.
August Eisenhart was revered for his generosity. He readily supported the needy, including the students and the school system of the large city school and the Turkish Orphanage in Klein Glienicke. Even after passing away, he bequeathed a significant portion of his wealth to the city for charitable and philanthropic purposes, including the establishment of a large free school in the former Gardes-du-Corps-Straße.
He also bequeathed the funds for the creation of a sanatorium, which was built on the corner of Kirchhofs-Gasse (later Eisenhartstraße)/Behlertstraße. The monument you see here was erected in 1909 by the city in front of his birth house in Berliner Straße. It was a gesture of gratitude for his extraordinary generosity. During World War II, the original bronze monument was melted down, and a sandstone copy was created to replace it. In 1972, after the original house was demolished, the monument was moved to its current spot on the public green area between Behlert and Eisenhartstraße, right where the former Eisenhart sanatorium once stood.
A child’s gaze directed at August Eisenhart reminds us to remember his legacy: a benefactor who helped shape Potsdam into a city that would embrace its future while remaining deeply rooted in its past. This is the August-Eisenhart-Denkmal – a symbol of civic duty, kindness, and the everlasting impact of a life well lived.