First anniversary after substantial refurbishment of the BMM
Berlin, 11 June, 2024
Charité’s Berlin Museum of Medical History (BMM) is celebrating its first birthday after modernisation with a special day of events. Reduced admission is available to all guests on Saturday 15 June. There will also be free guided tours of the permanent exhibition ‘On the Trail of Life’ and the special exhibition ‘The Brain in Science and Art’.
Prof Monika Ankele, Director of the Berlin Museum of Medical History: ‘I took over the management of this great museum in spring and am delighted to be celebrating the first anniversary of its reopening with our interested public. I would like to strengthen the museum founded by Rudolf Virchow as a unique interface between medicine, history and the public. I am also keen to further develop the museum and its programme and open it up to critical reflection – from researchers, doctors, artists, students and civil society.”
The exhibitions
The permanent exhibition ‘On the trail of life’ displays around 750 pathological and anatomical wet and dry specimens as well as models and illustrations. On their journey through time, visitors follow the development and shaping of medicine based on the natural sciences. They pass through various activity rooms: the anatomical theatre, anatomical museum, infirmary, laboratory, dissection room and the study and teaching collection. You will learn a lot about the history of the Charité, but also about the dangers and abysses of medicine, for example during the National Socialist era. A new feature is a realistically staged museum depot in which objects such as medical equipment, models, instruments and teaching charts are stored close together.
The special exhibition ‘The Brain in Science and Art’ offers a look behind the scenes of the extraordinarily dynamic neurosciences. It shows a detailed map of the brain and what is medically possible when brain function is impaired. A special focus is on the neuro-cosmos of the Charité: In around 20 thematic areas, the exhibition covers topics such as modern imaging, mind reading, brain-PC interfaces, addiction and stroke as well as autoimmunity, dementia and neurosurgical interventions on awake patients. In addition, the exhibition broadens the view and shows artistic positions in a variety of works that interpret the brain as a projection screen for the human condition in all its dimensions. The special exhibition runs until Sunday 8 September.
The action day at the BMM will take place on Saturday, 15 June from 10:00 to 19:00 at Campus Charité Mitte, Charitéplatz 1 in 10117 Berlin (site address: Virchowweg 17). Reduced admission of 5 euros applies to all guests. Guided tours of the permanent exhibition and the special exhibition are available from 14:00 to 15:00 and from 16:00 to 17:00. Participation in the individual guided tours is limited to a maximum of 30 people. Please register in good time at the ticket office.
Note on age recommendation
In its exhibitions, the BMM shows human specimens such as anatomical structures and pathological changes, and so-called malformations can also be seen in the historical specimen room. A visit to the museum is therefore recommended for young people aged 16 and over.
Berlin Museum of Medical History of the Charité
The BMM emerged from Rudolf Virchow’s Pathological Museum, which opened in 1899. It provides visitors with fascinating insights into the development of medicine over the last 300 years and shows changing special exhibitions. The museum building was substantially modernised between 2020 and 2023 and equipped with a modern museum technology infrastructure. The spacious display case windows, the entrance area and the forecourt were also redesigned.