Historisches Museum Basel

Bonifacius Amerbach (1495–1562) inherits the estate of Erasmus of Rotterdam, which, together with the heir’s coin collection and the paintings of Holbein, becomes the basis of the Amerbach Cabinet.

Basilius Amerbach (1533–1591) draws up Inventory D of the Amerbach Cabinet, listing the holdings according to their mode of storage in the private collection building “Zum Kaiserstuhl”. The building had been constructed in 1580.

The Council of Basel decides to purchase the Amberbach collections for the university.

As one of the first public collections of an urban community, the Amerbach Cabinet is made open to the public in the “Haus zur Mücke”.

Major additions to the collection due to acquired holdings of the Museum Faesch, which had been collected in the 17th century.

Opening of the “Museum an der Augustinergasse”, as the first new museum building in Basel combining all collections (library, art collection, antiques and coin collection, natural historical collection). The building had been designed by architect Melchior Berri.

Wilhelm Wackernagel arranges the division of the collection by founding the Medieval Collection, which is the predecessor institution of the Basel Historical Museum. It is housed in outbuildings of Basel Cathedral, in the “Bischofshof”.

Foundation of the “Verein für die Mittelalterliche Sammlung und für Erhaltung baslerischer Altertümer” (since 1892 “Verein für das Historische Museum”)

Basel applies to be the seat of the projected Swiss National Museum. The Medieval Collection was to be the basis and the Barfüsser Church was to provide the location.

Merging of the Medieval Collection, the Antiques Collection (without ethnographical objects) and the holdings of the Basel Arsenal in the new “Historical Museum”.
The institution, which is the biggest and most important of its kind in Switzerland, features two salaried posts for one conservator and one janitor.

On April 21st the Historical Museum (since 1916 Basel Historical Museum) is opened in the extensively and structurally renovated Barfüsser Church.

Projected museum expansion at the Steinenberg (not realized).

A part of the Steinenberg 4/6 building, which had been erected as a schoolhouse in 1822, is allocated to the Historical Museum in order to house the administration, workshops and depots.

The museum inherits the Segerhof and its interiors from Miss Marie Burckhardt. The building, which had been constructed as a merchants residence in 1788–1791, was opened as the first historical house museum.

Demolition of the Segerhof. Haus zum Kirschgarten is assigned as a replacement building (opening not until 1951).

Opening of the Town and Cathedral Museum at Kleines Klingental with collection holdings of the Basel Historical Museum and the Reformed Church of Basel-Stadt.

Opening of the musical instruments collection in Haus Leonhardskirchplatz 5 (in the musicology department of the university).

Opening of Haus zum Kirschgarten as a museum of home décor of 18th century Basel. At the same time, installation of the following special collections: Greek and Roman antiques, ceramics, sleighs, clocks, toys.

Closure of the Barfüsser Church; renovation of the floor; new installation of the collections (due to the prior interior redesign of Haus zum Kirschgarten).

Conversion of one half of the Choir basement of the Barfüsser Church into the lower treasury.

After being relocated to Leonhardstrasse 8, the collection of historical musical instruments is opened, following the donation of the Lobeck Collection by Dr. h.c. Paul Sacher (1956).

Transfer of parts of the antiques collection of Basel Historical Museum to the just founded Museum of Antiques. Transfer of the archeological finds of Augst to the Roman Museum in Augst (except for coins and cameos).

The baroque garden pavilion of Haus zum Hof, St. Albanvorstadt 36, is reconstructed in the garden of Haus zum Kirschgarten in order to use it for the permanent exhibition.

Opening of the Pauls-Eisenbeiss-Foundation’s porcelain collection (about 750 porcelain figures as well as dishes from the manufactures of Meissen, Frankenthal, Hoechst and Ludwigsburg) in Haus zum Kirschgarten.

Taking possession of the Dr. Edith Stocker-Nolte-Foundation (19th/20th century residential building and interiors).

Reopening of the renovated Barfüsser Church. Structural alterations: replacement of the central nave’s pillars, correction of the western façade, reconstruction of the rood screen, which had broken off in 1843, demolition of the aisle galleries, conversion of a basement into a room for exhibitions and operational facilities.

Opening of the carriage and sleigh collection in Brüglingen, renamed “Carriage Museum” in 2000.

Reinstallation of the historical musical instruments collection after the renovation of the building.

Haus zum kleinen Kirschgarten is opened with ten new showrooms in order to be part of the permanent exhibition: clock collections of Carl and Lini Nathan-Rupp (242 clocks) and the Dr. Eugen Gschwind-Foundation (208 clocks), living rooms of the 19th and 20th century.

Major additions to the collection due to the dispersal of the Basel Trade Museum’s collection. Transfer of ca. 20,000 objects to Basel Historical Museum until 1994.

Reorganization of the museum depot.

Collection of musical instruments. Closure of the museum in Leonhard Street and opening of the new Museum of Music in the cell wing of the former remand prison in the Lohnhof. The construction and equipping of the museum was completely funded by private donations.

Barfüsser Church: First phase of the renewal of the permanent exhibition (Basel Cathedral Treasure, ecclesiastical stained glass, Basel Dance of Death). Closure of Town History I (archeology) in favor of a new showroom for special exhibitions.

Barfüsser Church: Structural measures to save the building envelope (windows) and to improve facilities in the interior (stairs, lift). Opening of the nave and installation of a visitor service center with a café in the exhibition area.

Barfüsser Church: Renewal of the permanent exhibition
Western gallery: Basel’ Guilds and Societies

Barfüsser Church: Renewal of the permanent exhibition
Nave: Basel – Symbols and Images of a City
Roodscreen chapels and choir: Basel – events

Opening of the new permanent exhibition in the basement of the Barfüsser Church.