Pinnable

During the Age of Enlightenment, the city of Mannheim became a major centre for scientific research. Today, with a patent intensity of around five per 10,000 inhabitants, the city is among the most innovative in the country. Museum-wise, Mannheim hasn’t much to offer, but the Technoseum positively stands out. It presents the development of science & technology from the 18th century to the present day, along with the social & economic changes resulting from industrialization. For instance, the museum not only shows how a steam engine works, but also elucidates the impact steam power had on life and working conditions.

With an exhibition space of 9,000 m² the Technoseum is rather huge, and its collections are quite diverse. Among the highlights is the original inventory of Mannheim’s Old Observatory, and there are a great many interesting artefacts on display from the fields of medicine, chemistry, physics and engineering. Machines such as the weaving mill, the paper mill and the steam engine played a central role in industrialization, and therefore have a central place in the museum as well. In addition, railways receive a fair bit of attention because they were a fundamental driving force for the Industrial Revolution. Sections on electrical engineering, vehicles and everyday life complete the historical collections. Although it is aimed at schoolkids, both children & adults will appreciate the hands-on Elementa exhibition, which explores general scientific principles.

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