South Seas department of the Ethnological Museum in Dahlem closed from tomorrow due to urgent safety measures
Press release from 12/19/2007
From tomorrow, the South Sea Department of the Ethnological Museum of the National Museums in Berlin (Museen Dahlem) will have to be closed for an estimated two months due to extremely urgent construction work.
The reason for this is the recent discovery of structural damage to the concrete pillars, which could pose a risk of collapse for the hall. This was discovered during structural analyses in connection with the renovation work on the building complex, which dates back to the 1960s. These are necessary in order to avert danger for the remaining time until the Ethnological Museum and the Museum of Asian Art move to Schlossplatz (probably in 2013). During the closure period, temporary heavy-duty supports will be installed to stiffen and secure the structure. If no further complications arise, it is intended to reopen the South Seas department to the public in March 2008. All other exhibition areas of the Dahlem Museums are not affected by the emergency measures.
The Ethnological Museum of the National Museums in Berlin is one of the largest and most important of its kind, with 500,000 objects from all parts of the world and significant holdings of sound recordings, photographic documents and films. In addition to the South Seas section with its art and culture from Oceania and Australia and its large boat exhibition, which is popular with visitors, the museum presents American archaeology, the cultures of the Indians of North America, the everyday culture of East Asia and the art and culture of the African continent in other permanent exhibitions. In addition, its Junior Museum is aimed at children aged five to twelve.