Museum of Pre- and Early History - James Simon Gallery
Berlin
The National Museums in Berlin are a museum cosmos with art and cultural treasures from the entire history of mankind. The collections of the 20 museums include European and non-European art, archaeology and ethnology from almost every nation, culture and era. The Museum Island in the center of Berlin is an incomparable ensemble of buildings, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and a magnet for visitors from all over the world. The museums here, including the Old National Gallery and the New Museum with the bust of Nefertiti, house unique collections on the art and cultural history of Europe and the Mediterranean region. The collections at the Kulturforum and other locations in Berlin are linked to the exhibitions on Museum Island in terms of content and time. The collections from the Gemäldegalerie to the Neue Nationalgalerie and the Hamburger Bahnhof show the diversity of art from the Middle Ages to the present day.
Exterior view of the James Simon Gallery. © Staatliche Museen zu Berlin / David von Becker
James Simon Gallery
The James Simon Gallery primarily serves as a visitor center for the museums on Museum Island and offers extensive functions such as exhibitions, events, a café and administrative offices. It is a modern access point that offers visitors a convenient way to get their bearings before visiting the neighboring museums. The gallery leads directly into the Pergamon Museum, one of the most famous and impressive museums in the world dedicated to ancient civilizations and their art.
The building itself is characterized by its simple but elegant architecture. It combines modern materials such as concrete and glass with historical elements and respects the surrounding architecture of the Museum Island, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Particularly noteworthy is the spacious and light-flooded design of the James Simon Gallery, which creates an atmosphere of openness and accessibility.
James Simon, after whom the gallery was named, was a wealthy Berlin entrepreneur, art collector and philanthropic patron who was a major supporter of the Museum Island project and whose generous donation contributed to the founding of the Pergamon Museum. The James Simon Gallery thus helps to honor his legacy and pay tribute to the importance of his cultural contributions.
Overall, the James Simon Gallery is not only an architectural highlight, but also a central component of the Museum Island, offering visitors modern access to one of the most important art collections in the world. It plays an important role in the renewal and further development of Berlin as a cultural location and contributes to the promotion of cultural exchange and international dialog.
