In 1874 Berlin had its Brandenburg Provincial Museum, portraying the history and culture of Berlin and the Brandenburg Marches. It developed into the Märkische Museum (Brandenburg Museum) and in 1908 moved into the impressive building near Köllnischer Park. The architect used motifs peculiar to Brandenburg brick-built architecture. The tower is modeled on the Wittstocker Bishop's Palace in the district of Potsdam, and the south-facing traceried gable is reminiscent of St Catharine's in Brandenburg.
In front of the entrance on Wallstrasse stands a 1905 copy of the 1474 Roland statue from the Town Hall in Brandenburg.
The Märkische Museum also suffered badly during the Second World War; about 80 per cent of the building and 20 per cent of its exhibits were lost, including the natural history department. After being built up again in stages, the museum now documents Berlin's historical and cultural development over a period of 10,000 years.
The museum is being combined with the Berlin Museum and renovation work is being carried out, so visitors may find that entry is restricted.
Pre- and Early History
The Department of Pre- and Early History gives an overview of the first human settlements in the Berlin region before the town was founded. The oldest finds include arrowheads from Biesdorf (c. 9000 BC); remains of a primeval hunter's hut (6000/7000 BC) were found there too and reconstructed in the museum. Also on display are bronze jewelry from Marzahn (fifth C. BC), silver and gold jewelry from the sixth C. AD and a model of a medieval Slav fortress.
History of the city
Berlin's history from the Thirty Years' War up to the present day is covered by displays in the relevant department. The period prior to the Thirty Years' War is portrayed in St Nicholas' Church. Various aspects of the city's history are shown, including "Berlin during the Thirty Years' War," the development of transport and the building of the canals, the history of skilled crafts, the nobility and the bourgeoisie, science and education, civil revolution and living conditions among the working classes. The items exhibited include a 160 sq.ft model of "Berlin around 1750," the sole preserved horse's head from Schadow's "Quadriga" on the Brandenburg Gate, models of ships and of a steam locomotive built in Berlin in 1816, tools and equipment, town plans, documents and a city banner of 1839. The events of autumn 1989 (when the two German sides reunited) have also been given a small exhibition of their own. The Heinrich Zille Cabinet shows studies and sketches left behind by the popular and committed portrayer of the Berlin social environment.
Berlin Theater from 1740 to 1933
The exhibition devoted to "Berlin Theater from 1740 to 1933," underlines Berlin's proud tradition as a theatrical city. In addition to portraits of such well-known actors as Max Reinhardt there are also models of theaters and stage sets of important plays, photographs, hand-bills and posters.
Art and Skilled Crafts
The largest department of all displays examples of Berlin art and skilled crafts. Particularly interesting is the collection of memorial art. Also to be seen are iron castings, arts and crafts, porcelain from the Royal Porcelain Manufactory, Brandenburg glass, the Nicolai Room, paintings and sculptures from the Baroque to the contemporary, medieval textiles and sacred devices.
Köllnischer Park (Cölln Park) and Bear Pit South of the Märkisches Museum lies this small park with a lapidarium belonging to the museum and a bronze memorial to Heinrich Zille by H. Drake, 1965. A curiosity is the bear pit on the southern edge of the park, built in 1939 and housing the three bears known as Tilo, Maxi and Schnute.
Ancillary museum buildings
There are a number of extensions to the Märkisches Museum. These embrace the Berlin Museum of Handicraft, St Nicholas' Church, the Knoblauch House, the Ephraim Palace, the Huguenot Museum in the tower of the French Cathedral, the museum portraying "Life of the Berlin Working Classes around 1900", Friedrichsfelde Palace and the Alt- Marzahn Berlin Village Museum.
"Documenta Artistica" Museum
This branch of the museum at Inselstrasse 7 (entrance at corner of Wallstrasse) not far from the museum building has a collection about the circus, cabaret and variety. It is based on a collection of 9,000 circus posters, the oldest dating from 1782. In addition there are costumes and props once used by artists, such as Indian clubs belonging to the well-known juggler Rastelli.
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