Construction of the Altes Museum begins in Berlin

Background. The Altes Museum is a listed building on Museum Island in Berlin's historic centre. Schinkel developed plans for the Königliches Museum as early as 1822/23 to house the royal Antikensammlung. The arrangement of the collection was overseen by Wilhelm von Humboldt, while the building itself was ordered by King Frederick William III of Prussia.

Construction. Although plans were ready by 1822/23, actual construction did not begin until 1825. The museum was built between 1825 and 1830 by order of King Frederick William III of Prussia according to plans by Karl Friedrich Schinkel. It is considered a major work of German Neoclassical architecture, contributing to the harmonized ensemble of Museum Island alongside the renovated Berliner Dom and Lustgarten.

Legacy. The Altes Museum was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 as part of the Museum Island complex. This recognition highlights its testimony to the architectural and cultural development of museums in the 19th and 20th centuries. It remains the oldest museum on the island, displaying Greek and Roman art objects.