Stadtmuseum Kaufbeuren

Stadtmuseum Kaufbeuren, nestled in the heart of the historic old town of Kaufbeuren, Bavaria, invites visitors to embark on a journey through time. This cultural history museum, with a primary focus on the town's rich history, reopened its doors in 2013 after extensive renovations. Housed in a charming old-town building, the museum spans four floors and offers a comprehensive look at Kaufbeuren's evolution, intricately tied to the broader economic and social history of the region.

The Origins and Evolution of Stadtmuseum Kaufbeuren

Established in 1879, Stadtmuseum Kaufbeuren is one of the oldest city history museums in Bavarian Swabia. It began as a local museum created by Willibald Filser, an art dealer and magistrate, within the town hall. Initially, the museum showcased artifacts from the town's history in just two rooms and opened to the public in 1880.

In 1901, curator Christian Frank and district officer Gustav von Kahr organized the Folk Art in the Allgäu exhibition in the agricultural school building on Kaisergäßchen street. The exhibition's success led to the establishment of a permanent Museum of Folk Art in the same location. In 1928, a Ganghofer Room was added, displaying items from the estate of the renowned author Ludwig Ganghofer, who was born in Kaufbeuren.

In 1934, the various museum collections were consolidated under one roof due to the town administration's need for office space in the town hall. Under the guidance of administrative inspector Fritz Schmitt, with support from the Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation, the museum was permanently established in the Kaisergäßchen building. It reopened as the Heimatmuseum Kaufbeuren on November 18, 1934, and in 1936, the exhibition was expanded to include a collection of crucifixes from the parish priest Richard Wiebel of Irsee.

Due to structural issues, the museum closed in 2002. After more than a decade of closure and extensive renovations, it reopened on June 7, 2013, with a modernized and expanded exhibition space.

The Collections

The museum's collection primarily consists of objects related to the history of Kaufbeuren. Noteworthy is the impressive collection of around 300 crucifixes spanning nine centuries, showcasing a range of artistic styles from ecclesiastical and monastic life to folk religious artifacts. Another highlight is the collection of approximately 80 Protestant reverse glass paintings, created in Kaufbeuren in the late 18th century and publicly accessible through the bavarikon platform. The museum also holds significant parts of the private estate of the successful author Ludwig Ganghofer. Additionally, the museum features a variety of rural room furnishings and ethnographic objects, which have been part of the museum since the Folk Art in the Allgäu exhibition in 1901.

The Exhibition Concept

Since its reopening in 2013, Stadtmuseum Kaufbeuren boasts five distinct sections in its permanent exhibition, each highlighting different aspects of its collection:

Crosses and Saints: Located on the ground floor, this section features the crucifix collection and the story of Saint Crescentia of Kaufbeuren. A treasure chamber displays crucifixes made from precious materials such as ivory, porcelain, and bronze.

City Traces: This section, on the first floor, delves into the history of the imperial city of Kaufbeuren, covering the 19th and 20th centuries.

Of the Beautiful Things in Life: Also on the first floor, this section showcases rural room furnishings from the 1901 Folk Art in the Allgäu exhibition. It also introduces the three exhibition organizers: local historian Christian Frank, district officer and later Bavarian Prime Minister Gustav von Kahr, and architect Franz Zell.

Typically Kaufbeuren: On the second floor, this section explores the bi-confessional imperial city of Kaufbeuren and the complex coexistence of different religious denominations. It also features Protestant reverse glass paintings from 1740 to 1790 and the town's textile production history.

With a Sharp Pen: Located on the third floor, this section is dedicated to the literary sons and daughters of Kaufbeuren, including Hans Magnus Enzensberger, Ludwig Ganghofer, Sophie la Roche, and Christian Jakob Wagenseil.

A Commitment to Accessibility and Engagement

The Stadtmuseum Kaufbeuren is fully accessible, ensuring that everyone can explore its rich offerings. The permanent exhibition includes interactive elements, media stations, audio guides in both German and English, and listening stations, making the museum experience engaging and informative for all visitors.

Engaging with the Past: The National Socialist Era

Since 2015, the museum has taken a more in-depth approach to examining Kaufbeuren's history during the National Socialist era. Prompted by public criticism of the permanent exhibition's portrayal of the 20th century and the Nazi period, the museum hosted a panel discussion in January 2016 titled The Design of Exhibitions on the Nazi Era - Dealing with Objects. Following this event, a contemporary historian was commissioned to review the permanent exhibition, confirming the criticism and recommending revisions.

In 2018, the museum launched a collection call for objects from the Nazi era, addressing gaps in its collection. This effort laid the groundwork for the participatory exhibition project Kaufbeuren under the Swastika: A Town Goes in Search of Clues, which began in October 2018. Over a year, the museum collaborated with ten local partners to develop content for a special exhibition and its accompanying program. Supported by the Federal Cultural Foundation, the exhibition opened on October 31, 2019. Concurrently, the museum initiated a provenance research project to investigate the origins of objects acquired between 1932 and 1964, ensuring that no items were unlawfully taken from Jewish owners during the Nazi era.

In November 2020, the town's cultural committee decided to redesign the museum's permanent exhibition based on the findings and objects from the special project. Additionally, on September 26, 2020, the museum facilitated the installation of Stolpersteine (stumbling stones) to commemorate Kaufbeuren's victims of National Socialism. The museum also published a memorial book in collaboration with the Historical Archive of the District Hospital of Kaufbeuren, honoring the town's victims of Nazi euthanasia.

Special Exhibitions

The museum hosts two special exhibitions annually on the ground floor. Each year, the special exhibition room is also utilized by selected representatives of Kaufbeuren's art and cultural scene. Past exhibitions have included:

2013: Erwin Birnmeyer. Stone on Stone. Works from 1946–2006.

2014: Film Paintings. Videos by Christoph Brech. In cooperation with Filmzeit Kaufbeuren.

2014: Mathematics to Touch. A Discovery Journey into the World of Numbers and Phenomena. Interactive exhibition from the Mathematikum in Gießen.

2014/15: Waiting for Christmas. Advent calendars from the beginnings to the present. Collection by Esther Gajek.

2015: In Memoriam. Euthanasia in National Socialism. Traveling exhibition by Michael von Cranach.

2015: First Kaufbeurer Photo Days. In cooperation with the Photography Working Group of VHS Kaufbeuren e.V.

2015: From Gunsmith to Printmaking. Daniel Hopfer – Inventor of Etching.

2016: Children's Dreams & Games. Toys from the Stadtmuseum Kaufbeuren's collection.

2016: End and Beginning. Exhibition by BURONALE video art award winner Lydia Kaminski with Philip Neumann. In cooperation with Filmzeit Kaufbeuren.

2016: On the Move and Arriving. I integrate myself from early morning to late at night. Traveling exhibition by Hermine Oberück and Gertraud Strohm-Katzer.

2017: Kaufbeuren Views. Cityscapes past and present.

2017: Emotions in Flux. Anniversary exhibition of 50 years of Kulturring Kaufbeuren e.V. In cooperation with Kulturring Kaufbeuren e.V.

2017/18: Confessions of Glass. Protestant reverse glass paintings from Kaufbeuren.

2018: Woven Memories. Video art and objects by Rose Stach. BURONALE video art prize. In cooperation with Filmzeit Kaufbeuren.

2018: Understand Paper! A