The Temple of Glory: The Deutsches Museum and Technological Nationalism, 1903-1933

In this talk, Katherine Boyce-Jacino (Johns Hopkins University), explores the foundational years of the world’s largest technology museum, the Deutsches Museum in Munich. Founded on paper in 1903, the museum officially opened in May of 1925. In his foundational remarks, the museum’s founder, Oskar von Miller, declared that “all the people of the whole German Reich have created this temple of glory to German craftsmanship.” This talk explores von Miller’s original vision for the museum, and what the museum actually looked like when it opened its doors. In particular, Boyce-Jacino aims to interrogate what von Miller meant when he envisioned his project as a “temple of glory” to German technological innovation by asking the following questions: what does it mean to have a national technology museum? What does such a museum look like? And how did the Deutsches Museum participate in a growing debate about the role of technology in modern Germany, specifically during the interwar years?

This seminar is a part of the History Seminar on Contemporary Science and Technology.

For further information, please contact: Tom Lassman at 202-633-2419; lassmant@si.edu.

Please note: NON-SMITHSONIAN VISITORS MUST RSVP NO LATER THAN 48 HOURS BEFORE THE SEMINAR. On the day of the seminar, please report to the South Security Desk at the Museum’s Independence Avenue entrance. Those holding SI ID badges may proceed directly to the Director’s Conference Room on the 3rd floor.