Levi-Strauss-Museum

About the museum

Levi Strauss was born in Buttenheim in 1829, the son of a Jewish peddler, and spent the first 18 years of his life here before emigrating to America with his mother and siblings in 1848. In San Francisco he founded a wholesale business and in 1873, together with the tailor Jacob Davis, patented riveted work trousers – the origin of jeans.

In Buttenheim itself, this connection had long been forgotten. Only an enquiry from the USA in 1983 set research in motion; an entry in the birth register of the Jewish community and an emigration document in the Bamberg State Archives finally confirmed his place of birth. It also emerged that the house where he was born was still standing: a listed half-timbered building from the 17th century, whose ground floor the family had lived in.

The Market Town of Buttenheim bought the house in 1987 and from 1992 had it restored as faithfully as possible. The museum opened there in September 2000 and soon received several awards, including a Red Dot Award for its exhibition design in 2001 and a special commendation in the European Museum of the Year Award in 2002. In 2011 the converted neighbouring building added space for temporary exhibitions and events, a cafeteria and the museum shop. For the museum's 20th anniversary, the friends' association donated a life-size bronze figure of the jeans inventor.

Highlights

• The original birthplace of Levi Strauss, a 17th-century half-timbered building
• The Strauss family's home on the ground floor, offering insight into the lives of rural Jews in Franconia
• Collection of rare historic jeans and denim pieces
• Radio-play-style audio guide featuring the voice of Levi Strauss
• Small jeans cinema under the roof
• Life-size bronze statue of Levi Strauss

Permanent exhibitions

• Familie Strauss und das Landjudentum – On the ground floor, the family's former home, the focus is on Levi Strauss's childhood and origins, the everyday life of Jewish families in rural Franconia in the 19th century and emigration to America.
• Stoff, Farbe und Siegeszug der Jeans – The upper floor is devoted to denim, indigo blue, the beginnings of industrial production and the worldwide success of jeans, illustrated with rare historic pieces.
• Jeans in Deutschland und Jeans-Kino – The attic floor covers the history of jeans in Germany and their role as a symbol of youth and freedom, and houses a small cinema showing film clips.

Founded

2000

Operated by

Markt Buttenheim

Admission & discounts

No card payment possible. Free admission with the BAMBERGcard (according to Bamberg Tourism).

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

Due to the structure of the historic half-timbered building, the museum is not barrier-free. The website offers information in Easy Language (Leichte Sprache).

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

Children's tour "Verwoben" with a hands-on part and props to touch, such as a peddler's tray.

Getting there & parking

By car via the A 73, exit Buttenheim, then towards Buttenheim-Mitte (via Kellerstraße) and follow the signs. By bike via the RegnitzRadweg cycle route (valley route).

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Cafeteria in the neighbouring building; the museum shop run by the friends' association (Levi's collections, books, souvenirs) is open during museum hours, tel. 09545 339.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit