Experience the 1600s from the bedside, parlour and alleyway and get to know the very first citizens of Gothenburg.

The Museum of Gothenburg is getting a head start on the 400th anniversary of the City of Gothenburg with an exhibition about the city’s birth and childhood. Join us on a journey through history and get to know the very first Gothenburgers, try out 1600s-style social media, listen to the popular music of the times and help to solve the mystery of who wore the Silver Heart ornament around their neck!

The Birth of Gothenburg is the story of the city’s childhood and teenage years. It was a time of childhood diseases, war and conflict, before the city grew up to become a multicultural trading metropolis with influences from around the world. The Birth of Gothenburg is also the story of the vulnerable individual, who are not always seen and heard in historical narratives.

We start with the late medieval town of Nya Lödöse, whose remains have lain hidden for hundreds of years underneath today’s Old Town. Recent excavations of the city and unique finds shed new light on Gothenburg’s early history. With the help of real life stories, unique objects and archaeological finds we glimpse what everyday life was like in the 1500s and 1600s.  

We convey knowledge about Gothenburg’s bustling history via visual and interactive scenes specially developed together with dramaturges and our main target group, young people aged 13 to 16. The exhibition is also being held in close collaboration with the Funktek project, which works on accessibility at the Museum of Gothenburg. Everyone should be able to experience our exhibitions.

You are welcome to take a journey through Gothenburg of the 1600s, peek into the sumptuous baroque salon of the privileged class and visit the city’s poor districts.

The Birth of Gothenburg gives you new perspectives on the city – both now and then.

TRAILER FOR THE EXHIBITION:

The exhibition is a part of Gothenburgs 400th anniversary.