Museum Kesselhaus Herzberge

About the museum

The boiler house was built between 1889 and 1892/93 as part of the Heil- und Pflegeanstalt (care and treatment institution) Herzberge, designed by city architect Hermann Blankenstein and opened in 1893. Its plain late-classical brick architecture supplied the hospital with heat until 1991, when the last steam boiler was shut down. Today the ensemble is a listed building and bears the European Heritage label.

The museum presents three permanent exhibitions. The boiler technology traces three generations: a double-flue boiler from 1892, three inclined-tube sectional boilers by Borsig from 1938, and two small water-tube boilers from 1960. Visitors can look inside the boilers, and display panels explain how they work and how coal was transported. A second exhibition covers the history of the Evangelisches Krankenhaus Königin Elisabeth Herzberge, with documents, inventory and medical equipment; the third honors the architect Blankenstein.

The museum is run by the Förderverein Museum Kesselhaus Herzberge (friends' association). Alongside monument conservation, it runs a cultural program with site-specific themes and art projects, rents out rooms, and sees itself as a socio-cultural platform and work integration project.

Highlights

• Three generations of steam boilers from 1892 to 1960 that you can explore up close
• Medical history exhibition on the Herzberge hospital
• Exhibition on city architect Hermann Blankenstein
• Listed brick architecture
• Rooms for events available to rent

Permanent exhibitions

• Drei Generationen Dampfkesseltechnik aus 100 Jahren – Preserved boilers from 1892, 1938 and 1960 that visitors can explore from the inside, supplemented by panels on their function and coal transport.
• Geschichte des Ev. Krankenhauses Königin Elisabeth Herzberge – Documents, inventory and medical equipment on the history of the hospital since 1843 and of the Herzberge care institution since 1893.
• Architekt und Stadtbaurat Hermann Blankenstein – The exhibition presents the life and work of the Berlin city architect, under whose direction the Herzberge complex was also built.

Founded

2003

Operated by

Förderverein Museum Kesselhaus Herzberge e.V.

Admission & discounts

Admission by donation; group tours by arrangement €2, children €1.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• 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 boiler level with the steam boiler technology can only be reached via a staircase on the upper floor and is not accessible.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant: not available

No restaurant; catering is possible with advance booking.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Available for rent are the theater hall (220 m²), the boiler level with the steam boilers (500 m²) and the Blankenstein Hall (220 m²); the proceeds go to the association's cultural work.

Plan your visit