Historisches Museum Frankfurt – Opening of the ‘Rententurm’
On 24 May, the opening of the newly renovated ‘Rententurm’ (pension tower) of the Frankfurt Historical Museum took place. For the first time in its 500-year history, it is open to the public. The exhibition presents the historical and current life on the Main. In the basement, insights to the river itself are given. A column of three screens shows historic photographs and film clips of the 19th and 20th Century and so illustrates different benefits and characteristics of the river: its use for bathing, fishing and transport, or flooding, ice and low water.
One the next floor, the trade and economic history of Frankfurt is treated, matching the previous use of the space as ‘Retenamt’. At one screen the painting ‘Das Mainufer am Fahrtor’ by F. W. Hirt can be explored interactively, accompanied by audio plays.
Upstairs is the ‘clock room’ with an old tower clock and an interactive clock, which makes bells ringing and other historic sounds playing if its hands are turned. An interactive model of the city highlights the historical development of the city of Frankfurt from celtic times to today.
Commissioned by the exhibition designers Gillman and Schnegg, iart is in charge of the planning and implementation of the media for the new exhibitions of the Historical Museum Frankfurt. The ‘Rententurm’ exhibition is the first of three exhibitions to be implemented until 2014. The so called ‘Museum of Collectors’ and the new building of the Historical Museum are following.