Museum Henry Dunant

About the museum

Henry Dunant (1828–1910), the driving force behind the Red Cross and the Geneva Conventions, spent the last years of his life in Heiden. Here he wrote his memoirs, developed his ideas further and learned in 1901 that he would be the first person to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The museum is housed in the neoclassical building of the former district hospital, which opened in 1874 as the first hospital of both Appenzells. In 1892 Dunant moved into a room on the second floor there as a boarder.

The first Henry Dunant Museum was created on the ground floor in 1998. From 2020 it was reorganised, and the listed building was converted by GSI Architekten until autumn 2023. On 10 August 2024 the museum reopened with a new, inclusive and multimedia core exhibition. It follows Dunant's life path and builds a bridge to today's questions of human rights, international law, peace and democracy. In 2026 the museum was nominated for the European Museum of the Year Award.

In front of the museum, in an installation by the artist Lucie Schenker, hangs the Peace Bell of Nagasaki, one of five copies worldwide of the bell that survived the atomic bombing in 1945; it is rung every year on 9 August. The Dunant memorial by Charlotte Jahn Germann, inaugurated in 1962, stands in Heiden.

Highlights

• The only museum in the world on the life and work of Henry Dunant
• Inclusive, multimedia core exhibition since August 2024
• Historic building where Dunant lived as a boarder
• Peace Bell of Nagasaki in front of the museum
• Accessible, with listening stations, audio guide and tactile objects

Permanent exhibition

• Kernausstellung «Humanität schläft nie!» – The inclusive, multimedia exhibition follows Henry Dunant's path from Geneva via Solferino to Heiden and refers to the humanitarian compass.

Founded

1998

Operated by

Schweizerisches Rotes Kreuz beider Appenzell

Admission & discounts

All prices are also valid in euros. Free with the ICOM, VMS and Raiffeisen Plus cards, the OSKAR guest card, the Lake Constance Experience Card, and for members of the Verein and Freundeskreis Museum Henry Dunant. The Kulturlegi is valid.

Accessibility

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

The museum is on the ground floor without steps and is fully wheelchair accessible. Lightweight folding chairs are available at reception, there are seating options in the exhibition, a low reception desk and low lockers. Exhibition texts are available in German and as an audio version in German, French and English, plus listening stations, a few tactile objects, relief maps of the rooms for orientation and films with German and English subtitles. Assistance dogs and guide dogs are allowed. Procap's ZugangsMonitor provides further information.

Kids & families

• Hands-on stations

Some objects may be touched; children up to 11 have free admission.

Getting there & parking

The rear entrance is about 135 m from the stop and accessible without barriers.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Lockers

Museum shop with books, objects and gift items, also online.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit