Founded in 1852 and largely initiated by the Franconian aristocrat Hans Freiherr von und zu Aufsess, the Germanic National Museum in Nuremberg is one of the largest cultural history museums in Germany. It houses one of the foremost collections on German culture and art from pre-/early history through to the present day.

Documenting German history, literature and art.
The aim of the Germanic National Museum is to collect, research and exhibit anything that documents the history, literature and art of the German-speaking world in the context of European culture as a whole. This covers everything from simple everyday objects to luxury items and fine art. The rooms in the old Carthusian abbey, the gallery and the vast new building by Sep Ruf are filled with works of art and objects dating from prehistoric times to the present day, taking visitors on a journey through Germany's cultural history.

Covering approx. 25,000m² and 1.2 million objects, the largest museum of German art and culture presents the whole spectrum from prehistory and early history through to the art and culture of the second half of the 20th century. With more than 20,000 exhibits on display, it takes visitors on a journey back in time, from Stone Age hand-axes, the golden cone-shaped hat from Ezelsdorf (Bronze Age), medieval sculptures by Veit Stoss and Tilmann Riemenschneider and the Behaim globe to Albrecht Dürer's emperor portraits and Rembrandt's self portrait. Other sections cover textiles, jewellery, stained glass, arts and crafts, design from the Middle Ages through to the modern age, historical furniture, musical instruments, folklore, toys, weapons, hunting paraphernalia, scientific instruments and ancient guild artifacts.
» www.gnm.de

A selection of other cultural history museums in Germany.