Karl Marx House facts for kids
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| Established | 1947 |
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| Location | Trier |
| Type | biographical museum |
| Visitors | 50.000 |
| Owner | Friedrich Ebert Foundation |
The Karl Marx House (called Karl-Marx-Haus in German) is a special museum in Trier, Germany. It is the house where Karl Marx was born in 1818. Karl Marx was a very important thinker whose ideas influenced modern socialism and communism. Today, the house is a museum that teaches visitors about Karl Marx's life, his writings, and the history of the ideas he developed.
Contents
History of the Karl Marx House
The building was constructed in 1727. It was a two-story house built in the Baroque style. Karl Marx was born here on May 5, 1818. His family lived in this house for about a year. In October 1819, they moved to a smaller home nearby.
Becoming a Museum
For many years, people did not realize how important this house was. In 1904, a political group called the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) tried to buy it. They finally succeeded in 1928.
However, when the Nazi Party came to power in 1933, they took the building. They turned it into a printing house.
After World War II, the house was returned. On May 5, 1947, it officially opened as a museum. This was a special day because it was Karl Marx's birthday.
Museum Expansions
In 1968, the museum became part of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation. This foundation is connected to the SPD political party.
The museum was closed for a year for big renovations. It reopened on March 14, 1983. This date marked 100 years since Karl Marx passed away. The renovation made the museum much larger, expanding it to three floors.
Exploring the Exhibits
In 2018, the museum updated its exhibits. This was done to celebrate 200 years since Karl Marx's birth. The new exhibition is called "From Trier to the World. Karl Marx, his ideas and their impact until today."
What You Will See
The exhibition has three main parts. It also includes a section about the history of the house itself.
- The first part tells the story of Karl Marx's life. It covers his childhood in Trier and his time living in other countries.
- The second part focuses on his work. It shows how Marx was a philosopher, a journalist, a sociologist, and an economist.
- The third part explores how Marx's ideas have influenced the world up to today.
Some of the interesting items on display include:
- Karl Marx's own reading chair.
- A first edition of his famous book, Das Kapital.
- A sculpture of Marx made by his great-grandson.
About 50,000 people visit the Karl Marx House every year. Many visitors come from China.
See also
- Engels-Haus
