In 1925, after 20 years of planning, Oskar von Miller opened the Deutsches Museum of science and technology on an island on the Isar. Now, the Deutsches Museum has around 50 exhibition areas spread over eight floors and a collection of more than 100,000 objects – although not all of these are on display at all times. Exhibits relate to subjects including energy, transportation, music and robotics, and many of the displays are presented in an innovative, interactive way.
Make sure you catch the most popular features of the Deutsches Museum: the first motorized aircraft built by the Wright brothers, the first programme-controlled computer, and a real U1 submarine. Tucked away on the first floor is a musical instrument exhibit, with displays that range from a replica Bronze Age lur to modern-day synthesizers. The piano collection is particularly beautiful. Children aged between 3 and 8 are welcome in the kids area, where a range of hands-on activities are available to them.
Over in the Energy exhibition, a high-voltage apparatus is used twice daily to demonstrate currents and pulses. Visitors can see members of the museum staff enter a Faraday Cage onto which a 270,000 volt is discharged. Guests with pacemakers are required to avoid certain areas, with specific information available on the museum website.
The Museum store sells books, postcards and quirky souvenirs, and it is definitely worth a visit. There are also several cafés located within the museum. The Deutsches Museum is easily accessible by streetcar from downtown Munich.
