Druckereimuseum und Schaudepot im Benary-Speicher

Current exhibitions

About the museum

The seed-breeding and horticultural company Benary had the building constructed in 1879 as a large storehouse: a four-story brick building with neo-ornamental details, whose wooden framework was re-exposed inside during renovation. Today it belongs to the Sparkassen Finanzzentrum (savings bank financial center), which has allowed the city of Erfurt to use it culturally since 2001. During the conversion in 1999/2000, a passenger elevator was installed in the old freight elevator shaft.

The printing museum goes back to the "Gutenbergkeller" (Gutenberg cellar) on Johannesstraße. From 1982, employees of the Erfurt printing company "Fortschritt" ("Progress") had set up a heritage cabinet there with machines from 1860 to 1930, which the Stadtmuseum (city museum) took over in 1994. At the Benary warehouse, the machines are running again, including a toggle press from 1865, a Boston platen press from 1880, and a Typograph from 1910. Added to these were the complete workshop of the Erfurt art printer Ernst August Zimmermann and a line-casting machine from 1930/40.

On the second floor, a display depot shows objects from the Museum für Thüringer Volkskunde (Museum of Thuringian Folklore) and the Angermuseum. The best-known item is the South Seas collection, which the city purchased in 1889 from a colonial official: more than 600 objects, including an outrigger boat almost six meters long from the Marshall Islands and Samoa.

Highlights

• Working printing machines from two centuries
• Print your own after the guided tour
• South Seas collection with an outrigger boat almost six meters long
• Display depot with objects from the Erfurt museums
• Protected 1879 warehouse with original sack hoist

Permanent exhibitions

• Druckereimuseum – Historical hand presses, typesetting, and printing machines from 1860 to 1930 are demonstrated; after a guided tour, visitors can print for themselves.
• Schaudepot – On the second floor, objects from the Museum für Thüringer Volkskunde and the Angermuseum are shown, including the South Seas collection with the outrigger boat.

Founded

2001

Operated by

Landeshauptstadt Erfurt (Geschichtsmuseen Erfurt)

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• 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 building has a passenger elevator; access is partly restricted.

Kids & families

• Hands-on stations

After a tour of the printing museum, visitors can print for themselves.

Getting there & parking

The building is at Brühler Straße 37 and belongs to the Sparkassen Finanzzentrum.

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