Städtisches Museum im Storchen

About the museum

Hans von Liebenstein had the building constructed around 1536 as a manor house at the then city wall; it remained in the family's possession for about 250 years. In 1781 a Göppingen district physician bought it, and just a year later the house survived the great city fire of 1782 – which is why it is considered the oldest half-timbered house in the city center today. In the 19th century, an innkeeper ran a wine tavern on the second floor, where the carnival society "Storchiana" was founded in 1860, giving the house its popular name.

The collection goes back to the history and antiquities association founded in 1925, which in 1931 opened a local history museum in rooms of the then commercial school. In 1938 the city acquired the former Liebenstein town palace as the museum's new home, but the war delayed the move. On July 3, 1949, the museum opened in the Storchen; shortly afterward the association handed its holdings over to the city. The natural history collections later moved to a museum of their own in Jebenhausen. From 2012 to 2014 the building was renovated.

The permanent exhibition is spread over five levels with more than 500 square meters. It ranges from early traces of settlement and the founding of the town through the guild system, the city fire, and industrialization to the postwar period and focuses on people and their ideas – such as Märklin's model railways or Schoenhut's circus. One level is reserved for special exhibitions.

Highlights

• Oldest half-timbered house in Göppingen's old town (around 1536)
• Toy worlds with products by Märklin, Schmohl, and other Göppingen companies
• Depictions of the city fire of 1782
• Religious art and decorative arts from the Fils Valley
• Discovery stations for young visitors

Permanent exhibitions

• Göppinger Stadtgeschichte – Tour over several levels from the first traces of settlement and the founding of the town through guilds, the city fire, and industrialization to the postwar period.
• Personen und Ideen – Göppingen personalities and companies – from Märklin's model railway and Schoenhut's circus to bead knitting – as well as religious art.
• Spielzeugwelten – Toys by traditional Göppingen manufacturers such as Märklin and Schmohl on the top level, with a children's station.

Founded

1931

Operated by

Stadt Göppingen (Archiv und Museen)

Admission & discounts

Free admission also with the Göppingen Bonuscard.

Accessibility

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

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Kids’ birthday parties: not available

The exhibition has interactive elements and discovery stations for children, and on the top level the toy worlds are a draw. Once a month, children aged 8 to 12 can explore a topic as "Junge Geschichtsforscher" (young history researchers) and make crafts. Children's birthday parties are currently not accepted.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the old town on Wühlestraße; by car via the A8, exit Aichelberg/Göppingen.

Amenities & dining

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

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit