The thing about Gothenburg

Explore the 20th century Gothenburg through our most beloved and hated Gothenburg objects.

Starting with Gothenburg’s most iconic objects and buildings, and accompanied by a chorus of voices from history, the following question is examined: what is the thing about Gothenburg? Check out awesome objects from the museum’s collections, like the first Volvo car and a New World sea chest that crossed an ocean.

A century of things

The 20th century was the century of things. No other era has produced so much stuff and we have never owned so much before. In this exhibition we use objects to tell a story about Gothenburg over the past century or so. We searched our collections and also brought in more objects. We asked Gothenburgers to help us choose and this is the result. In the exhibition we present over 50 objects plus 13 buildings to tell a story of Gothenburg in good times and bad. You might have chosen totally different ones – the question of what’s the thing about Gothenburg has many answers.

Just like a city’s residents, all the objects in the exhibition are linked in various ways. Follow the lines in the ceiling or choose to go your own way. Welcome in!

The last piece of a 400 year old puzzle

The exhibition is the last piece of the puzzle in our major exhibition venture around the city’s 400-year history, which starts in our popular 17th century exhibition Birth of Gothenburg and ends in our present time. Discover 400 years of history at Gothenburg City Museum in 2021!