Permanent exhibition "Gutenberg Museum MOVED"
The new interim exhibition "Gutenberg Museum MOVED" opened at the Natural History Museum at the end of November 2024. The exhibition spans a total of three levels, including the nave of the former Clarissan convent, the oratory, and the former preparation rooms of the Natural History Museum. The new permanent exhibition offers visitors a new perspective on experiencing media and understanding their history.
Six themed areas use selected objects from the collection to illustrate a media history perspective from then to now. Surprising and outstanding objects are juxtaposed with their modern counterparts and linked to current topics. Media stations enhance the exhibition interactively; visitors can even take their own selfie in the backdrop of a printing workshop and take it home with them.
A special highlight is the new city model, which shows Gutenberg's places of activity and is accompanied by an animation.
The square treasure chamber presents the centerpieces of the exhibition, the two famous Gutenberg Bibles ("B42") and fragments of the "B36." A wall projection complements this with details from the Gutenberg Bibles, bringing the pages to life.
Three adjacent table display cases show further developments in book production: from manuscripts and block books to the further development of letterpress printing.
Visitors can access the first and second floors via the staircase. 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 plans for the new Gutenberg Museum building.
On the first floor, printing demonstrations take place on the reconstructed Gutenberg press – guests experience real craftsmanship up close. Visitors also learn about book production, from paper manufacturing to stamp cutting and type casting to bookbinding. Two films are shown in the cinema hall, one produced by SWR and one by Stefan Matlik with Lars Reichow as narrator.
The Druckladen, the museum's educational department, is located on the second floor. There, daycare groups, school classes, individuals, or families can learn to print themselves and give free rein to their creativity.
