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The Busch-Reisinger Museum is the only museum in America devoted to promoting the informed enjoyment and critical understanding of the arts of Central and Northern Europe, with a special emphasis on the German-speaking countries. Founded in 1901 as the Germanic Museum through the efforts of Kuno Francke, professor of German literature at Harvard, the Museum originally contained only reproductions, notably plaster casts of major Germanic, sculptural, and architectural monuments. Under the curatorship (1930-1968) of Charles L. Kuhn, the Museum developed into one of the leading collections of modern art from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and related cultures. The Museum was renamed the Busch-Reisinger Museum in 1950 in honor of the related St. Louis families which had contributed decisively to its support.

Today, the Museum has especially important holdings of Austrian Secession art, German expressionism, 1920s abstraction, and material related to the Bauhaus (including archives of Lyonel Feininger and Walter Gropius). In addition to notable collections of late Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque sculpture, 16th-century painting, and 18th-century porcelain, the Museum has recently focused on deepening its holdings of post-war and contemporary art from German-speaking Europe. The collection of unique and editioned artworks by the post-war artist Joseph Beuys is among the world's most comprehensive.

The Museum's activities include:

*the permanent display of art and design since 1880 in Werner Otto Hall

*the presentation of work from earlier periods in the Fogg Art Museum and Adolphus Busch Hall

*the Study Room, where visitors can view art and conduct research, either individually or in classes.

*special exhibitions, lectures, and publications.

*a demonstration of László Moholy-Nagy's Light Prop for an Electric Stage, Wednesdays at 1:45 p.m.
A video of the sculpture in operation can be seen in the online exhibition "Extra Ordinary Every Day".

See Current Exhibitions at the Busch-Reisinger Museum

The Busch-Reisinger Museum is in Werner Otto Hall and is entered through the Fogg Art Museum. See map of the galleries

For a new teacher's guide to the permanent collection, please see: From Modern Art to "Degenerate Art": German Culture, Politics, and the Avant-Garde, 1910 - 1948. A Guide to Teaching with Art from the Permanent Collection of the Busch-Reisinger Museum.

For a curated web 'exhibition' focussing on the Museum's collection of works from the Bauhaus (available until 31 December 2005) , see Extra Ordinary Every Day: The Bauhaus at the Busch-Reisinger

The Friends of the Busch-Reisinger Museum/Verein der Freunde des Busch-Reisinger Museums is a Foundation based in Germany which supports the educational and scholarly activities of the Busch-Reisinger Museum. For more, go to The Friends of the Busch-Reisinger Museum/Verein website.