Haifa City Museum

The Haifa City Museum invites its visitors on a fascinating journey through the development of a modern Mediterranean city. The journey begins in the 18th century, with the destruction of "Old Haifa" and the establishment of "New Haifa" by the ruler of the Galilee, Dhaher al-Omar, and continues through its transformation into a multi-national and cosmopolitan city, up to its emergence as the northern metropolis of today. The exhibitions in the museum shed light on the key processes and themes that shaped Haifa's character as a mirror of the developing society in the country.

The museum's location at the edge of the German Colony reveals a rich and complex urban fabric. The museum promotes a discourse that deals with the urban space and urban culture, and discusses issues of identity, multi-nationality, and interculturalism, while placing great importance on the connection with the local community.

Templer's assembly hall and the Templer School
The museum is housed in a compound that includes two magnificent Templer buildings that have been meticulously preserved. "Beit Ha'am" (Templer's assembly hall), established in 1869, was the first community building of the Templer Society members, who came to the land believing their settlement here would bring about redemption. The building was used for gatherings, prayers, and events, and a school operated on its upper floors. In 1890, the building was renovated, a large hall was added, and a bell tower was erected at its front, giving it a church-like appearance. The second building, the "Templer School," was established in 1902.

In the 1990s, as part of the restoration process of the German Colony, the plan to establish the museum in the two buildings was formulated, initiated by the then-Director General of Haifa Museums, Nissim Tal, and designed by architect Dagan Mushly. The museum was inaugurated in Beit Ha'am in 2000, and in the school building in 2004.

The museum offers many educational programs for children and families. Visitors are invited to enjoy cultural and historical tours, participate in a Templer escape game throughout the colony, and be impressed by the life stories of the city's residents, past and present.