Exhibition in the German Federal Council
»16/16 Stories from the
German Emigration Center Bremerhaven«
For over 20 years, the German Emigration Center in Bremerhaven has been showcasing how emigration and immigration shape our history. From May 8, 2026, the museum will present the exhibition ’16/16 Stories from the German Emigration Center’ at the German Federal Council at the invitation of the Mayor of Bremen and current President of the Federal Council, Dr. Andreas Bovenschulte.
From individual to national and world history
The exhibition 16/16 Stories from the German Emigration Center Bremerhaven presents sixteen unique life paths – each leading into or out of one of the 16 federal states. Among other journeys, it goes from South Africa to Saxony-Anhalt and then onward to Bremen. From Bremen to New York. From New York back to the North Sea island of Föhr. Emigration and immigration biographies of children, teenagers, adults, and seniors span international networks from the 18th century to the present.
It recounts the recent history of the emigration hurdles that a Bavarian had to overcome during the Corona pandemic, demonstrating the oldest story of how a French nobleman rebuilt his life in Hamburg around the year 1800 as a refugee from revolution. Each of the 16 biographies is illustrated by unique lithographs, photos, documents, or mementos from the collection of the German Emigration Center. They document German migration history in all its facets: A densely written letter recounts how, in 1832, goat’s milk saved an infant on the crossing to America. A black riding cap testifies to German colonialism in China. A blue plastic duck becomes a symbol of the long, not always straightforward process of arrival in Germany. A self-written poem rhymes about the peace found by the grandchildren of a Volga German in the Federal Republic.
Each individual life story stands for itself, yet together they condense a piece of national and world history. “The 16 life paths in this exhibition invite you to consider migration from different perspectives and develop a deeper understanding of one another,” emphasizes Bremen’s Mayor and current President of the Bundesrat, Dr. Andreas Bovenschulte. “They encourage openness, empathy, and curiosity towards the experiences of others and to trace their life paths.”
Visit the exhibition
Since 2015, the Bundesrat regularly opens its doors for changing exhibitions. Artists connected to the country currently holding the Bundesrat presidency present their works in the Light Court West. Now, for the first time, a cultural-historical exhibition complements the program with the exhibition of the German Emigration Center in Bremerhaven. The exhibition will be on display from May 8 to October 31, 2026, and can be viewed as part of an art tour. Dates and information on registration can be found at www.bunderat.de.
About the German Emigration Center
The German Emigration Center Bremerhaven is the oldest and largest migration museum in Germany. It shows how migration moves people – from the 17th century to the present day. On the historic site of one of the largest European emigration ports, the museum collects, preserves, and narrates biographies and objects that make migration tangible. Since its founding in 2005, it has developed into one of the most significant collections on migration history with about 35,000 objects from the period of 1692 to the present and from over 50 countries. With a participatory permanent exhibition, regular special exhibitions, and numerous events, the museum is a place of knowledge, exchange, and encounter, giving a voice to those who have often been overlooked in history.
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