Mathematikum

Current exhibitions

About the museum

The Mathematikum grew out of a traveling exhibition with which Gießen mathematics professor Albrecht Beutelspacher set out to show, from the 1990s onward, that mathematics can be grasped with your hands. Its great popularity gave rise to the idea of a permanent home, which opened on November 19, 2002, as one of the world's first hands-on mathematics museums.

The museum is housed in the converted former main customs office near Gießen station. On several floors, some 200 exhibits invite visitors to solve puzzles, build bridges, shape soap films or lose themselves in mirror cabinets – without formulas, but with plenty of trial and error.

Within just a few years, the museum passed the mark of one million visitors. In 2009 the Mini-Mathematikum was added for children of kindergarten and elementary school age. Traveling exhibitions carry the concept to other cities and countries, while lecture series and special exhibitions round out the program. The museum has received several awards for its educational work, including the Hessischer Kulturpreis.

The Mathematikum is run by the association Mathematikum Gießen e.V.; founder Albrecht Beutelspacher is director, and Elisabeth Maaß is managing director.

Highlights

• Some 200 interactive hands-on exhibits
• Mini-Mathematikum for children aged 4 to 8
• Puzzles, bridge building and soap film experiments
• Housed in the former main customs office by the station
• Traveling exhibitions in Germany and abroad

Permanent exhibitions

• Mathematikum – Dauerausstellung – Some 200 experiment stations on geometry, numbers, chance and logic that can be tried out without any prior knowledge.
• Mini-Mathematikum – Separate area with simple hands-on stations for children aged about 4 to 8.

Founded

2002

Operated by

Mathematikum Gießen e.V.

Director

Prof. Dr. Albrecht Beutelspacher (Direktor), Elisabeth Maaß (Geschäftsführerin)

Admission & discounts

Free for MathematikumCard holders and association members.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Ramps at the front and rear entrances; seven steps to the exhibition via a platform lift (up to 225 kg); all floors accessible except one small room on the first floor (five steps). Loaner wheelchairs on site, accessible restroom on the first floor, two accessible parking spaces in front of the building. Exhibits adapted with the blista Marburg, with Braille titles; instructions available online in screen-reader-friendly form.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities
• Kids’ birthday parties

Hands-on exhibits for all age groups; its own Mini-Mathematikum for children aged 3 to 8. Children's birthday parties and holiday play groups can be booked. Baby changing tables in the accessible restroom and in the Mini-Mathematikum; high chair and baby food warming in the cafeteria.

Getting there & parking

Tour buses can stop on Liebigstraße directly at the museum for boarding and drop-off.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop
• Lockers

Cafeteria with coffee, cake, and ice cream; museum shop with puzzle games and books, also online. Lockers (€2 deposit). No dogs (except assistance dogs); food only in the cafeteria.

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit