The Hessian State Museum Darmstadt is one of the most important universal museums in Germany and impresses with its unique combination of natural, art and cultural history under one roof. Founded in 1820 from the collections of the Grand Duke of Hesse, today it invites visitors to experience the wealth of human knowledge and creativity - from prehistoric fossils to contemporary art - in impressive diversity.
Its architecture is an experience: built in 1906 by the renowned architect Alfred Messel, the HLMD presents a fascinating juxtaposition of historical style rooms - Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque rooms alternate with modern extension wings. The historic central hall and the magnificent Great Hall provide a splendid stage for special exhibitions and large exhibits.
The highlight of the collection is the "Block Beuys": with around 300 works by avant-garde icon Joseph Beuys, arranged in seven interconnected rooms - the world's largest coherent Beuys work complex. The exhibition is complemented by masterpieces of painting - from Pieter Bruegel and Rembrandt to Böcklin, Corinth and classical modernism - as well as spectacular natural science collections with fossils from the Messel Pit, an original mastodon skeleton and realistic dioramas.
Joseph Beuys, Block Beuys, Room 1 © Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt, VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn, 2023
The museum impresses with its clear curation and surprising thematic links: Art and nature are presented as part of a common narrative of human and natural development. The HLMD also offers an extensive educational program with guided tours, workshops, a study room, museum café and accessibility - ideal for families, researchers and culture enthusiasts of all ages.
The architecture, collections and staging make the Hessian State Museum a central attraction in Darmstadt - both as an architectural monument and as a multifaceted place of learning and amazement.
