Haus der Brandenburgisch-Preußischen Geschichte (House of Brandenburg-Prussian History)

The exhibition “Land and People. Stories from Brandenburg-Prussia” in the riding stables of the former Potsdam City Palace offers an exciting journey through 900 years of regional history.

Starting from the natural resources of Brandenburg: water, forest and sand, a vast panorama of history is covered, and not just the history of art and culture, but also the everyday lives of the people who lived here in the past. The cultural achievements of Cistercian monks, Huguenot refugees, glass making, hunting in the 18th century, and the lives of fishermen are all topics touched upon here.

Important events in Brandenburg and Prussian history are presented from the awarding of Brandenburg to the Hohenzollern royal family in 1415 to their departure in 1918 from the throne of a united German empire. Potsdam’s role as the residence of the Prussian military monarchy is shown in an interactive city model. Other topics include the artistic and literary discovery of Brandenburg in the nineteenth century, Brandenburg’s history as the state surrounding the metropolis of Berlin, and the beginnings of tourism and the motor engine.

Turning to more recent history, the visitor is shown how Brandenburg became home to numerous to Nazi detention centres thanks to its close proximity to the capital. Facets of everyday life during the post-war Communist era and the founding of the new State of Brandenburg in 1990 end the tour. More than 400 original objects from Brandenburg and Berlin as well as photos, films and multimedia stations tell the moving stories of Brandenburg-Prussia and its people in nine chapters.

The objects range from exquisite pieces of art to items that may appear trivial, but still provide vivid testimony of everyday life in the region: from the smallest object, a rat flea responsible for bringing the plague to Europe, to the largest, a classic car of the 1920s. Families can let coach boy Konrad lead them through the exhibition with the special children’s audio guide that helps even the little ones begin to learn history in a fun, playful way.