Bremer Geschichtenhaus

The Bremer Geschichtenhaus stands in the Schnoor quarter of Bremen. It occupies the St.-Jakobus-Packhaus, the city’s oldest surviving warehouse, first recorded in 1660. The building has been altered and restored several times, most recently in 1999, and has been protected as a monument since 1973. Its entrance lies on Wüstestätte, with another approach from Stavendamm. The museum is a project run by bras e.V., an employment organisation that helps long-term unemployed people and refugees gain skills through work. Visitors meet costumed guides who bring Bremen’s past to life. The project aims to rebuild confidence and prepare participants for new jobs. Training covers historical content, presentation skills and public roles. Public funds from Bremen, the federal government and the European Social Fund support the scheme. In 2008 it was named a Selected Site in the Land of Ideas and received Bremen’s Service Quality seal. Inside, the ground floor shows 17th-century scenes. A cooper explains how Bremen gained imperial immediacy in 1646. Other displays recreate the 1656 cathedral fire and the plague of 1655–56 before leading to a replica merchant ship. Upstairs, 20th-century stations include a colonial shop serving fresh coffee and a 1910 merchant’s office. The tour ends at a market square where local figures such as Gesche Gottfried and Heini Holtenbeen tell their stories, followed by a harbour voyage through Bremen’s overseas ports. The historic cellar hosts readings, concerts and private celebrations, while the Schnoor Archive is housed here.