Cultural Museum St.Gallen
The Ortsbürgergemeinde (citizens’ municipality) of St.Gallen ordered the construction of the Historisches und Völkerkundemuseum on the 28th of June 1914 – the day on which the First World War began. It was one of the last major projects of the embroidery boom. It opened on the 31st of March 1921.
Architecture:
The Historisches und Völkerkundemuseum was built between 1915 and 1921 according to plans of the Winterthur architects Bridler & Völkli. The neo-classical building with a hipped roof has an impressive western facade with imposing columns, repeated on the eastern side. Nowadays, the central courtyard is regularly used for events, including the St. Galler Kulturfestival (St.Gallen Culture Festival). The rooms inside are literally built around the collection, lending the entire building the qualities of a comprehensive piece of art. The building is not just a shell, but rather an independent, sensual backdrop.
Present-day use:
Today, the museum is home to one of the most significant cultural and historical collections in Eastern Switzerland. Particular emphasis is placed on the history of the city and region of St.Gallen, including as highlights unique objects from the linen trade and a scale model of the city as it was in 1642. The original historic rooms accent the collection – including a St.Gallen hairdresser’s shop from the 1930s.
The ethnological department allows encounters with ethnicities from around the globe. “Faszination Archäologie” (Fascination with Archaeology) offers an introduction into the archaeology of the canton and city St.Gallen. The excavations of the last few years (Rapperswil, Weesen, St.Galler Altstadt) are a central subject. The childrens’ museum offers families and children a museum experience for all of the senses.
