Permanent exhibition "Gutenberg-Museum MOVED"

The new exhibition “Gutenberg Museum MOVED” was opened on the premises of the Natural History Museum at the end of November 2024. The exhibition extends over a total of three levels and offers visitors a new way of experiencing media and understanding their history. The entire exhibition can be experienced in English. 

Six thematic areas use selected objects from the collection to illustrate an examination of media history from then to now. Surprising and outstanding objects are juxtaposed with their modern counterparts and linked to current topics. Media stations expand the exhibition interactively; visitors can even use them to create their own selfie in the setting of a printing workshop and take it home with them.

A special highlight is the new city model, which shows the places where Gutenberg worked and is accompanied by an animation.

The centerpieces of the exhibition, the two famous Gutenberg Bibles (“B42”) and fragments of the “B36”, are presented in the square treasure chamber. A wall projection shows additional details from the Gutenberg Bibles and brings the pages to life.

Further stages in the development of book production are shown in three adjacent table showcases: from manuscripts and block books to the further development of book printing.

The staircase takes visitors to the 1st and 2nd floors. The staircase is decorated with illustrations by Jörn Kaspuhl that tell the story of the Gutenberg Museum. The pictorial journey ends with a short film about the Gutenberg Museum's new building plans.

On the 1st floor, printing demonstrations take place on the reconstructed Gutenberg press - guests experience real craftsmanship up close.Visitors can also learn about book production, from paper production to stamp cutting and type casting to bookbinding.Two films will be shown in the cinema, one produced by SWR and one by Stefan Matlik with Lars Reichow as narrator.

The Print Shop, the educational department of the Gutenberg Museum, is located on the 2nd floor. Here, daycare groups, school classes, individuals and families can learn to print for themselves and give free rein to their creativity.

The exhibition provides information about the life and work of Gutenberg, and details the historic development of books and media, book art and printing technology since the 15th century, offering many additional "stories" from the "Gutenberg galaxy". For example, special exhibition sections focus on the history of the daily newspaper and press, book making, development of script and paper, as well as printing in China, Korea, and Japan. The permanent exhibition also includes a section with items of Pharaonic Egyptian and Islamic origin. A large number of exhibits, topics, and questions show how Gutenberg's inventions lastingly shaped the world of books, knowledge, and information. A process that continues to this day.