Sales Guide: Rautenstrauch Joest Museum

Rautenstrauch Joest Museum
Address:	Cäcilienstr. 29-33 50667 Cologne
Postal address:	Leonhard-Tietz-Str. 10 50676 Cologne
Phone:	0221/221-31301
Fax:	0221/221-31333
E-Mail:	rjm@rjm.museenkoeln.de
Remarks:	temporarily closed
Milestones
1897	Wilhelm Joest left his sister, Adele Rautenstrauch, his ethnological collection
1899	Donation of the collection to the City of Cologne
1901	Foundation of the museum
1904	Foundation of the support association
1906	Opening of the ethnological museum on Ubierring
2008	The museum building at Ubierring is closed, a new building is constructed at Josef-Haubrich-Hof

The objective of the Rautenstrauch Joest Museum is to convey culture and art of non-European peoples, such as Africa, ancient America, North America, ancient Indonesia, Thailand, and Oceania. The museum is the only ethnological museum in North Rhine-Westphalia and, due to its 65,000 exhibits, 100,000 ethnological photographs, as well as a specialist 40,000-volume library, is one of the largest of its kind in Germany.

The museum regards its function as a guardian of cultural legacy, educational institution, and centre for information and discussions. The foremost aim is to create respect for the multitude of non-European cultures. One focus of exhibitions therefor is the comparative approach and presentation of special topics which are relevant for everybody throughout the world.

The main geographical regions covered by the collection are Oceania, Indonesia, Africa and the Near East as well as Northern America. In addition there exist three small but important archaeological collections from Egypt, Mesoamerica and Camboja/Thailand.