When can the exhibition be seen?

The exhibition can be seen from May 18 to October 31, 2026, at the City Archive Straubing in the library at Salzstadel.

What is the admission fee?

Admission to the exhibition and participation in the designated guided tours are free of charge.

Are there guided tours of the exhibition?

Yes, guided tours with diploma archivist Johanna Girschick are scheduled for June 16, July 29, and October 29, 2026. Registration at stadtarchiv@straubing.de is required.

Where does the exhibition take place?

The exhibition takes place at the City Archive Straubing, library at Salzstadel, Rentamtsberg 1, 94315 Straubing.

How long does the exhibition visit last?

A specific visit duration is not provided. The exhibition can be independently explored as a compact archival presentation.

Discover Fraunhofer's Legacy Between Science, Remembrance, and Straubing City History

Name: Joseph von Fraunhofer in the Judgment of Contemporaries and Posterity
Start: 2026-10-13
End: 2026-10-31T23:59:00+01:00
Location: Stadtarchiv Straubing, Bibliothek im Salzstadel

Joseph von Fraunhofer: How Straubing Remembers Its Most Famous Son

The exhibition Joseph von Fraunhofer in the Judgment of Contemporaries and Posterity is dedicated to the scientific legacy and the culture of remembrance surrounding the significant optician, inventor, and entrepreneur. In the library at Salzstadel, the city archive of Straubing shows how the image of Fraunhofer evolved over generations in his hometown.

Science, Inventive Spirit, and Lower Bavarian Roots

Joseph von Fraunhofer was born in 1787 in Straubing and gained international recognition as a pioneer of optical precision manufacturing. His discovery of the Fraunhofer lines combined accurate observation with technical innovation and shaped the development of modern spectroscopy. The exhibition places Fraunhofer's life achievements in the context of the early industrialization and the emerging natural sciences research.

History of Remembrance in the City Archive

The focus is not solely on the biographer of the researcher but rather on the question of how Straubing remembered and publicly honored Fraunhofer. The presentation traces the more than 80-year struggle for the establishment of a monument in his hometown. Documents and reproductions make visible how recognition, local history, and cultural memory intersect.

Archival Material as an Aesthetic Experience

About 30 exhibits offer a concentrated examination of historical sources. They mainly come from the city archive of Straubing; they are supplemented by pieces from the Bavarian Main State Archive and the archive of the German Museum in Munich, which holds Fraunhofer's estate. Letters, visual materials, and archival testimonies give the exhibition atmosphere a special closeness to the past.

Art Historical and Cultural Education

The curation combines biographical research with regional science history. Visitors experience how an individual researcher became a cultural identification figure and why Fraunhofer's name continues to live on today in streets, buildings, postage stamps, an ICE train, and a research institution. The exhibition is suitable for independent examination as well as for in-depth engagement during a guided tour.

Guided Tours of the Exhibition

Diploma archivist Johanna Girschick will explain the reception of Fraunhofer in Straubing during tours on June 16, July 29, and October 29, 2026. Registration is possible at stadtarchiv@straubing.de; group tours can be arranged upon request. Participation is free of charge.

Conclusion: A Significant Art Experience of Cultural Remembrance

The exhibition offers an informative and atmospheric art experience between the history of science, archival work, and regional identity. Those who wish to discover Joseph von Fraunhofer not only as a namesake but as a visionary inventor and Straubing personality will find here an inspiring aesthetic experience. A visit to the city archive in Salzstadel enriches cultural education and opens the view to the lasting impact of scientific achievements.