How Beethoven's birthplace became one of the most visited music museums in the world

In 1885, there were still two places in Bonn that were called "Beethoven's birthplace". One was the house in the Bonngasse, where Beethoven was born; the other was a house in the Rheingasse, to which Beethoven's family moved a few years after his birth.

The influential music critic Eduard Hanslick visited Bonn and was horrified: "The city magistrate of Bonn should finally confiscate the memorial plaque from one of the two houses. It is certain for all time that Beethoven was born in house no. 515 in Bonngasse".

Five citizens of Bonn did not want to accept the conditions. They bought the house and restored it to what it must have looked like at the time of Beethoven's birth - the birth of the "Beethoven-Haus Bonn" association.

A prominent artist at the top should bring attention to the association. The board persuaded the famous violinist Joseph Joachim to become honorary president. A coup, because more celebrities joined the association: Prince Bismarck, Giuseppe Verdi and Johannes Brahms.

In 1890 the association began to organize chamber music festivals. To this day they are a firm tradition in the Beethoven-Haus. Thanks to the musical direction of Joseph Joachim (until his death in 1907) Bonn soon became a "Mecca of chamber music".

Initially the association collected only manuscripts, pictures, busts and relics. However, it soon became apparent that there was a need for action in Beethoven research. And so, the Beethoven Archive was founded in 1927 as a research and documentation institute.

On October 18, 1944, the English Air Force bombed Beethoven's birthplace. This stick fire bomb landed on the roof of Beethoven House. Janitor Heinrich Hasselbach swept the incendiary device into the courtyard, where it was extinguished.

In the further course of the war, the valuable treasures from the Beethoven House, including Beethoven's last piano and the entire library, were initially stored in a castle outside of Bonn. Later, the collection was moved to a mining tunnel near Siegen.

On April 7, 1945, American soldiers reached the tunnel and saved the treasures from a catastrophe: The moisture that appeared when the snow melted threatened to destroy the works of art. The story of the "underground museum" quickly got around.

The first return transport of the collection took place on 11 May. Here Beethoven's grand piano, two table pianos, the quartet instruments and furniture, as well as manuscripts and pictures from the gallery were brought back to Bonn.

Probably the most remarkable concerts ever held in the house where Beethoven was born were those given by the cellist Pablo Casals on September 18 and 20, 1958. Guests crowded into all three first floor rooms and as far as the courtyard and stairs.

Today the violinist Daniel Hope continues the tradition as president of the Beethoven-Haus. He succeeds the violist Tabea Zimmermann and the conductor Kurt Masur as president. He is the musical figurehead of the famous music museum in Beethoven's hometown.