Director of urban planning and construction Ludwig Hoffmann oversaw the building of the Märkisches Museum in Köllnischer Park from 1899 to 1908. A virtuosic, carefully staged ensemble in the style of Wilhelminian Historicism, this structure pays homage to architectural precursors from the north of Germany and the Mark Brandenburg region. The Gotische Kapelle, the Zunftsaal and the Waffenhalle provide an atmospheric framework for a range of productions. A strong level of civic engagement had already led to the foundation of the Märkisches Provinzialmuseum in 1874.
The Stadtmuseum Berlin presents a host of artefacts related to the culture and history of the city in this striking structure on the bank of the Spree River. The new permanent exhibition "BerlinZEIT" opened at the beginning of June 2018 and presents the city's defining moments from the Ice Age to the present in an easily comprehensible and compact form on two floors.