The old telephones
A row of telephones through the decades whose handsets you can lift and listen to.
dontworry — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo: Andreas Praefcke — Public domain · Photo: Andreas Praefcke — Public domain · scan by --kandschwar — CC BY-SA 3.0
The Museum for Communication in Frankfurt traces how people have communicated through history: from written letters and mail on horseback, through telegraph, telephone and radio, to the internet and smartphones. The idea is that each new technology reshaped relationships between people. It stands on the Museumsufer, the museum embankment south of the Main where several museums sit side by side. The displays are largely interactive: old telephones whose handsets you lift, machines you operate, and sections where visitors try the technologies themselves. Good for families and anyone interested in technology.
A row of telephones through the decades whose handsets you can lift and listen to.
Full-size horse-drawn mail coaches from before the railways.
An interactive explanation of how networks move information — good for older children.
Schaumainkai 53, 60596 Frankfurt
German Architecture MuseumThe German Architecture Museum sits on Schaumainkai, the stretch of the south ba2 minutes walk4.0
German Film Museum (DFF)On Frankfurt's museum embankment stands the German Film Museum: a journey throug2 minutes walk4.6
Städel MuseumThe Städel is Frankfurt's most important art museum and among the most important2 minutes walk4.7
MuseumsuferThe Museumsufer, or museum embankment, is the name given to the south bank of th3 minutes walk4.5
Jewish Museum FrankfurtFrankfurt was for centuries among Europe's great Jewish cities — the Rothschilds4 minutes walk4.6Yes — the museum is interactive by design and encourages touching and operating. Older children get more from it, since much of it needs some understanding, but younger ones still find machines to work.
The embankment holds several museums within a walk: applied art, the German Film Museum, and architecture. Two or three fit into a day. A combined ticket covering several museums saves money if you plan more than one.
An hour and a half is enough. It is mid-sized, and how long you stay depends on how much you stop at the interactive pieces.