Buchstabenmuseum, Berlin

After our visit to Teufelsberg, Claudia and I we went to check out the Buchstabenmuseum.  Who knew that Berlin had a museum basically dedicated to letters?  Not letters one sends by post but actual letters as in the ABC's.

The Buchstabenmuseum is a private museum that was founded in 2005 and is run by volunteers.  It's official goal is "preserving, restoring and exhibiting signage from Berlin and around the world."

In 2016 the museum moved to its current location, in a former East German supermarket, in Hansaviertel across from Jannowitzbrücke.  The museum has a very industrial feel and has more than 1.000 examples of letters, logos, and signs.

In my opinion the highlight of the collection was "The Boxed Letter G."  Back in 2014, two-time former heavyweight world champion boxer Wladimir Klitschko produced 26 oversized letters in blue acrylic paint on canvas.  This was part of a charity project to fight against illiteracy, especially amongst children.  The letters were auctioned off and raised €136.500.  Last year, in 2020, the museum received an offer to add the "G" to its collection.

Coincidentally, his brother Vitali Klitschko, also a former champion boxer, is the Mayor of Kyiv and I was able to say hello to him for less than a minute the last time I was in Ukraine on a free walking tour.

The museum isn't very big.  It's only open Thursday - Sunday, from 1pm to 5pm and at €12 the entrance is a bit pricey.  

Here's a short video about the museum that I found out on YouTube.

©CITY iLIKE