Berlin Story Museum

The Berlin Story is located in a bunker at Anhalter Station. A compact site, the museum has been designed to take you on a journey through 800 years of Berlin life with 30 different displays. Some of the multimedia displays include large scale photographs, short films, sculpture and other art installations. Follow the guided tour through history from the time of Frederick the Great in the 18th century through the German Empire under Bismarck until the late 20th century and the fall of the Berlin Wall. Each area has a different scene from history such as the home of a poor family from 1880, complete with original wooden floors, oil lamp lighting and a bean-snapping machine. Another scene tells the story of the lives of the so-called Trümmerfrauen, women who cleaned up Berlin's rubble after the Second World War bombings.

The history of Berlin in an air raid shelter

One of the striking aspects of the Berlin Story is its location: a huge concrete bunker built during the First World War. At that time, the bunker is linked by many corridors to the Anhalter Railway Station. Thousands of Berlin residents seek refuge there during air raids. Over time, the slogan He who builds the bunker drops the bombs is painted in graffiti on the walls, a saying which has become a hallmark of the museum. Both the nature of the material and the subterranean location adds to the atmosphere of the museum. As you start your Berlin Story Museum visit, you are led to the lower floor, collecting your audio guide as you go. The next stop is The Gate which tells the story of the Brandenburg Gate through large photo panels. Then it's onto, among other things, 20th century section with book burning by the Nazi party in the 1930s. The GDR section includes the Palace of the Republic's impressive porcelain service. A visit to the Berlin Story gives a taste of what is available in greater detail in many other museums in the city.

Berlin Story Bunker

In the same bunker you can visit an exhibition about Hitler. How could it happen that so many voted for Hitler? How did he become a Nazi? How did he get to power? How did anti-Semitism lead to concentration camps and the Holocaust? Why did generals and soldiers participated until the very end? With the suicide of the dictator Hitler actually ended the bloody war of history. The reconstruction of his original bunker space as well as a model of the driver's bunker, photos, documents and films can be seen.

More History

The black box at Checkpoint Charlie will explain the story of the Cold War with 16 multimedia displays and also a small cinema and original objects from the period. The Mauer Museum features a display of escape cars, hot air balloons and mini-submarines. The Checkpoint Charlie is also where you'll find The Wall, a large circular artwork by Yadegar Asisi depicting life in East and West Germany during the 1980s. If you are interested in science, visit the Deutsche Technikmuseum. Take a look at the Douglas C-47B Skytrain plane on the roof. The Berlin Gallery, with artworks from the 1870s, is also worth a visit.

Your visit to the Berlin Story Museum

Take the S1, S2 or S25 lines to Anhalter Station, from where the Berlin Story Museum is just three minutes walk away. The Mendelssohn-Bartholdy-Park underground station is also close by. The entrance price includes your audio guide, and a discount is available for Berlin WelcomeCard holders. Last admission at 6 pm.

School Group Information

Pre-booked groups of ten or more get a reduced entry price. School groups can visit unaccompanied by using the audio guide, and there is an interesting quiz to support learning.

Tickets

Opening hours