Oldtimer & Curioseum

Description

In the North Hessian town of Usseln, the Curioseum houses an unusual collection that brings together classic cars, two-wheelers, watercraft, aviation objects and everyday items. Parts of the holdings focus on regional local history and are thematically linked under the subtitle „Kitsch, Kunst & Krempel“.

At its founding a private collector contributed his objects and had the exhibition building constructed specifically for public access. He ran the house according to his own concept until his death in 2019; afterwards his daughter took over management. Inside, around 5,000 square metres of exhibition space are available. A sculpture of a cow on the roof serves as a prominent identifying feature.

The presentation avoids conventional museum divisions. A reception foyer with rotating exhibitions leads into a maze of levels and rooms where objects are often arranged in a living-room-like atmosphere. Small scenes, dolls and pictures as well as thematic dioramas—for example on the harms of smoking—complement the displayed items. Closed display cases are the exception and are used primarily for delicate or small exhibits. Most objects are displayed in labyrinthine galleries; staircases are rare and mainly function as shortcuts between levels. Many large objects lack labels, and the existing texts are mostly concise. The name Curioseum was also adopted in 2014 by the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa; a children's museum project also produced the book The Curioseum: collected stories of the odd & marvellous.

Thematically, historical vehicles predominate, from the beginnings of motorisation up to the 1990s, with land vehicles in the majority and a dedicated section devoted to shipping. These are complemented by historical household and agricultural implements as well as objects from various trades and technical fields. Winter sports equipment, cable car gondolas, furniture and a life-size papier-mâché figure of Napoleon are also part of the collection. In 2021 a racing driver added his memorabilia relating to the history of hillclimb races such as the ADAC Sauerland-Bergpreis. Motorcycles, mopeds, bicycles, cars and engines were represented already in the early phases of the collection; by 2019 the number of exhibited automobiles had grown to about 55 examples, among them the Buggy Diavolino, measuring only 207 cm in length. Tractors, a small submarine, model ships and several aircraft also belong to the holdings, which have expanded significantly in certain areas since 2008.

On the outdoor grounds stand, among others, a biplane Antonow An-2, a Lockheed F-104 „Starfighter“ and the wreck of a blue Piaggio P.149. Inside are a glider Schleicher Ka 4 Rhönlerche II, a yellow ultralight Fisher Koala FP-202 and the basket of a hot air balloon. Within the building a collection of around 50 model ships is presented; a submarine is displayed in front of the museum.