BERLIN.- To mark the 200th anniversary of Museum Island, the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin has inaugurated a landmark exhibition titled “Foundation Stone Antiquity: Berlin’s First Museum”, which opens today at the Altes Museum and will run through May 3, 2026. The show revisits the museum’s origins and the cultural significance of its foundation in the early 19th century, offering both a look back and a vision for the future.

The story began precisely two centuries ago, on July 9, 1825, when the foundation stone for the Altes Museum was laid in Berlin’s Lustgarten. Designed by celebrated architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel, the building was the first in Berlin — and all of Prussia — conceived specifically as a public art museum. It officially opened five years later, on August 3, 1830, and quickly became a beacon of culture and learning, attracting local and international visitors alike.

A Glimpse into the Past

Housed in the museum’s upper galleries, the exhibition offers a rare glimpse into the Altes Museum as it was in its earliest days. Among the highlights is a large-scale model of Schinkel’s neoclassical design, shedding light on the architectural vision that redefined museum spaces in the 19th century. Visitors will also encounter a carefully curated selection of sculptures, vases, bronzes, and terracottas—many of which were on display at the museum’s original opening nearly 200 years ago.

The exhibition also examines the historical context of the museum’s creation. Built during a time of civic awakening and growing interest in public education, the Altes Museum emerged as part of a broader cultural movement aimed at democratizing access to art. But the journey wasn’t easy: the construction faced significant technical and financial challenges, including the need to drive 3,000 pinewood piles into the ground to stabilize the foundation. King Friedrich Wilhelm III demanded strict cost control, prompting Schinkel to devise economical yet innovative solutions.

Between Past and Future

While rooted in history, the exhibition also raises questions about the future of the museum. With parts of the building damaged during World War II and in need of modernization, curators are using the anniversary to spark dialogue about how the Altes Museum can evolve to serve future generations.

“This isn’t just a retrospective,” said curator Angelika Walther, who co-developed the exhibition alongside Andreas Scholl, Director of the Collection of Classical Antiquities. “We’re inviting the public to consider what a museum of antiquity should look like in the 21st century—and beyond.”

Collaborations and Support

The exhibition is the result of a collaborative curatorial effort, also involving researcher Moritz Taschner and classical antiquity expert Elsa van Wezel, whose scholarship on the early history of Museum Island provided key insights. The project is supported by the Friends of Antiquity on Museum Island Berlin e.V. and the event division Museum & Location.