(Photo: © GDKE Joe from Ko)
Read aloud:
September 11, 2026
For the first time, a permanent exhibition at the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress Cultural Centre focuses on the development of a country over a period of 200 years. Visitors encounter women and men who bring this historical development to life.
Who "worked" here – and under what conditions? The new permanent exhibition provides touching and surprising answers to this question. "In our new permanent exhibition, visitors can explore the working world of our country," emphasized Professor Andreas Schmauder during a tour of the over 1.200 square meter space.
"In particular, we are highlighting the people who have shaped Rhineland-Palatinate with their work," remarks the director of the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress Cultural Center, acknowledging the achievement of over 200 people who spent six years researching in numerous archives for the " Land of Creativity " exhibition. The remarkable journey begins in the rural world of the 19th century and continues through modern times, encompassing research, tourism, and global challenges.
The permanent exhibition was opened in mid-August by Minister of Culture Sven Teuber . "I am delighted that 'Land of Creativity' is an innovative exhibition that puts the people behind the work in the spotlight." Using many original exhibits, the historians behind the exhibition were keen to show that Rhineland-Palatinate is more than the proverbial "land of vines and turnips ." The exhibition showcases a region that remains predominantly rural, yet is forging new paths toward a growing research landscape.
"Schaffensland" also sheds light on a dark chapter of history through the story of the Jewish Jacoby family. Meta and Hans Jacoby were integral to the economic and social life of Koblenz. Nazi persecution forced the family, including their son Max, to emigrate to Argentina in 1937. The family survived. In 1957, Max returned to Germany. As a successful photographer, he documented life in West Berlin and portrayed numerous prominent figures, including John F. Kennedy during his visit to Berlin.
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Another section of the exhibition focuses on the importance of craftsmanship. Using examples such as the seamstress Anna-Maria Mut and a piano maker, "Land of Creativity" illustrates the resulting successful development of the country. Furthermore, these stories demonstrate that work is not only about effort, but can also produce skill, precision, and creative achievement. This is true even though many entrepreneurs emigrated for economic reasons at the beginning of the 19th century, such as the businessman Eberhard Anheuser.
At the end of the exhibition, 18 people recount their career paths in what is now Rhineland-Palatinate. Using Koblenz as an example, it becomes clear that "creation" has lost none of its importance, even today. Craft-oriented manufacturers like Fräulein Diehl with her caramel factory , the ice cream makers of eGeLoSIA , and the chocolatiers of " secret chocolate lab" in Cahua exemplify a continued success story in recent times. And thus, ultimately, they serve as a prime example of a piece of German labor and social history.
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