Deutsches Freimaurer-Museum

About the museum

The impetus came in 1902 from the bookseller Georg Niehrenheim, who proposed to the Grand Lodge "Zur Sonne" that Masonic everyday objects be collected as the foundation of a museum. The collection was housed in the lodge house "Eleusis zur Verschwiegenheit" at the Hofgarten, which had been built in the 1880s.

From 1912 the physician Bernhard Beyer directed the museum and by 1930 expanded it into one of the largest Masonic collections in the world. During the Nazi era the museum, library, and archive were confiscated and plundered; a large part of the objects is considered lost to this day.

After 1945, Beyer assembled a collection again with the support of the Bavarian state government; since 1954 the Verein Deutsches Freimaurermuseum (association) has looked after the building. Today, the museum, which by its own account is the only German specialist museum on Freemasonry, shows lodge badges, medals, pictures, glasses, porcelain, and ritual clothing; among the rarities is one of only three surviving original badges of the Illuminati order worldwide. It also includes a specialist library of around 16,500 volumes and an archive with lodge documents and membership lists.

Highlights

• Lodge temple on the museum level
• Around 1,700 lodge badges and medals
• Glasses, porcelain, and ritual clothing with Masonic symbolism
• Rare badge of the Illuminati order
• Masonic specialist library with around 16,500 volumes

Permanent exhibitions

• Kulturgeschichte der Freimaurerei – Stations with text and images explain the history, symbols, and rituals of the Freemasons; on display are badges, medals, ritual objects, and a lodge temple.

Founded

1902

Operated by

Deutsches Freimaurermuseum e. V.

Director

Thad Peterson

Admission & discounts

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Getting there & parking

The museum is located in the lodge house at the Hofgarten in downtown Bayreuth (Im Hofgarten 1).

Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Plan your visit