Theodor-Mommsen-Gedächtnisstätte

The Theodor-Mommsen-Gedächtnisstätte stands in Garding, a small town in Nordfriesland. It includes a museum and a memorial for Theodor Mommsen, the first German Nobel laureate in Literature. The site opened in 1987 beside his birthplace. The exhibition traces his life from childhood in Garding and Bad Oldesloe through his academic career in Kiel, Leipzig, Zürich and Berlin. It also shows his private life, including family and friendships, with special focus on his ties to Garding. The display is divided into sections such as Eiderstedt, Family – Birth, Childhood – Youth – Education, and Nobel Prize. The birthplace itself is the neighbouring Diakonatsgebäude where Mommsen was born on 30 November 1817. He was the youngest of six children of the deacon Jens Mommsen and his wife Sophie Elisabeth. In March 1821 the family moved to Bad Oldesloe. A commemorative plaque was unveiled at the house in 1903. In 1911 a bronze bust by Heinrich Splieth was placed in the town park. The original was stolen in 2000 and is missing. A replica by Karl Pracht now stands on the pedestal. Since 2002 Garding has held the title Theodor-Mommsen-Stadt. Visitors find a well-illustrated exhibition with panels and objects arranged in clear sections. The rooms show maps, letters and photographs from each period of Mommsen’s life. Outside, the town park contains the restored monument with the new bust. Garding’s streets still reflect the small-town setting of Mommsen’s early years. The Gedächtnisstätte offers a quiet place to reflect on his achievements and his local roots.