Musée historique de Mulhouse
Museum in the former town hall of Mulhouse (1552): history of the Republic of Mulhouse, Alsatian traditions, archaeology and the Dreyfus room.
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About the museum
In the 19th century, the old Mulhouse families were proud of the history of their former republic and nostalgic for the vanishing “Vieux Mulhouse”. A history committee was created in 1860 within the Société Industrielle, and Frédéric Engel-Dollfus led the project for a history museum. It opened on November 11, 1874 at the School of Drawing, then in 1882 moved to the building constructed by the Société Industrielle, today home to the Musée de l’Impression sur Étoffes.
In 1937 it joined the Villa Steinbach, today the Musée des Beaux-Arts, before settling in 1969 in the former town hall of Mulhouse, a Renaissance building dating from 1552. The museum has been municipally managed since 1951. The collections comprised 664 objects at opening and today number several tens of thousands.
The route tells the distinctive story of the Republic of Mulhouse up to its union with France in 1798, and then the 19th century. It also shows the way of life of Alsatians, from the Neolithic to the 19th century: institutions, justice, guilds, bourgeois life, the Sundgau parlour and kitchen, and toys. Rooms are devoted to regional archaeology and to Alfred Dreyfus, who was born in Mulhouse.
Highlights
- Former town hall from 1552
- The Klapperstein, the wild man and the vase with three snakes
- Room devoted to Alfred Dreyfus
- Regional archaeology room, from the Palaeolithic to the early Middle Ages
- Sundgau parlour and kitchen
Permanent exhibitions
- Parcours permanent dans l'ancien hôtel de ville – From the 15th to the 18th century, the rooms present the territory, institutions, justice, defence, guilds and bourgeois life of the Republic of Mulhouse, then the 19th century and popular traditions.
- Salle d'archéologie régionale – Across 225 m², objects from the Palaeolithic to the early Middle Ages from excavations in southern Alsace, including jewelry from the Mulhouse Est necropolis.
- Salle Dreyfus – Room devoted to Alfred Dreyfus, born in Mulhouse in 1859, and to the affair that bears his name, with works by contemporary artists.
- Founded
- 1874
- Operated by
- Ville de Mulhouse
- Director
- Isabelle Dubois-Brinkmann
- Visitors per year
- approx. 43,380
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Free admission; activities are free by reservation.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- 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
The Décapole room (ground floor) and the Council Chamber are accessible; the rest of the museum can only be reached by stairs.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
The public services department offers activities for all ages from 18 months. During school holidays, workshops are open to 4–6 year olds, 7–10 year olds and teenagers.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
République
Tram line 1 and tram-train, République stop.
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
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Educational activities, creative workshops and guided tours are offered all year round; an activity must be booked with the public services department. |
