Bezirksmuseum Josefstadt

About the museum

The impetus for the Josefstadt museum came in 1938 from Josef Berka; the first objects were stored in a depot on Strozzigasse, which was destroyed by a bomb hit in 1945. From 1948 the museum was housed in modest premises in the district office on Schlesingerplatz, and from 1962 in the Haus der Jugend on Zeltgasse. Ludwig Sackmauer was its director for many years.

In 1981 the museum moved into the former municipal building of the Josefstadt suburb at Schmidgasse 18. The palace-like building was constructed in 1844/45 to plans by August Engelbrecht, later served as a district office and, from 1934 to 1970, as the main library of the municipal libraries. After a three-year general renovation, the listed building reopened in 1992.

On around 500 m², the ground floor shows special exhibitions and the first floor the permanent exhibition. One room is devoted to theatre and music, with a Bösendorfer grand piano that belonged to Franz von Suppé, mementos of Edmund Eysler and Josef Matthias Hauer, and of vanished stages. Further areas deal with crafts and trades, inns, the foundling house and maternity hospital, Friedrich Hebbel and Jewish life in the district, along with historic city maps. The neoclassical ceremonial hall is used for concerts, readings and lectures.

Highlights

• Bösendorfer grand piano from around 1866 that belonged to Franz von Suppé
• Ostrich-feather fan attributed to Empress Elisabeth
• Memorial plaque for more than 4,600 persecuted Jewish residents of the Josefstadt
• Historic maps from the Meldeman plan of 1531 to Huber's bird's-eye view plan
• Neoclassical ceremonial hall for concerts and readings

Permanent exhibitions

• Geschichte der Josefstadt – Permanent exhibition on the first floor on crafts, inns, the foundling house, city maps and Jewish life in the 8th district.
• Theater und Musik in der Josefstadt – Room with costumes, playbills, sheet music and two historic pianos, including Suppé's Bösendorfer grand piano.

Founded

1938

Director

Maria Ettl

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free at all Viennese district museums.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

According to the museum, not accessible for people with disabilities (permanent exhibition on the first floor).

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit