In memoriam BUCHSTABENMUSEUM
After twenty years, the Buchstabenmuseum in Berlin has closed its doors for good – and I was genuinely sad to read the news. This museum was where I first discovered neon signs in a curated, museum setting back in 2014, during my internship in Berlin, so it has always had a special place in my heart.
The museum’s impressive collection featured around 3,500 pieces, with typography at its core. Beyond the neon signs, you could find every imaginable type of street lettering and signage.
Their rescued pieces came not only from Berlin, but from across Germany and Austria. The collecting work began in 2005, and their first exhibition opened in 2008. One of the oldest items is a fully functioning neon sign dating back to 1947.
They also housed a number of remarkable pieces – for example, the bright red, handwritten neon logo of the Hertie department store. On 27 August 2009, after Hertie’s collapse, former employees symbolically lowered the two-metre sign into the River Spree in front of more than 200 guests and members of the press. Because the water authority required it to be retrieved, the sign eventually found its way to the Buchstabenmuseum.
Another favourite of mine is a slightly battered cardboard E, which appeared in Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds part of the “Le Gammar” cinema sign. The film was shot at Babelsberg Studio in Berlin in 2008, and after the final explosion scene, this damaged letter was the only surviving piece.
On 6 October 2025, after two decades of operation, the museum finally closed. “We haven’t received any institutional or regular funding. And now we’ve reached the point where we simply cannot continue without financial support,” founder and director Barbara Dechant told Welt.
This weekend (22 November 2025), the museum will open its doors one last time for a final sale, offering visitors a chance to take home a piece of its history. If you happen to be in Berlin, it’s definitely worth stopping by.
Barbara remains optimistic about finding a new home for the collection – ideally something more than just a storage space. I’m rooting for them and truly hope they find a new beginning soon.
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