Under the Sign of the Square and Compasses – Freemasonry in Magdeburg

To this day, Freemasonry is often associated with secrets, rituals, and myths. Yet across generations, it has been and remains one thing above all else: part of Magdeburg's bourgeois urban society and history.

To mark the 200th anniversary of the Harpokrates Masonic Lodge in Magdeburg, the Magdeburg Cultural History Museum, in cooperation with the lodge, is presenting the history and significance of Freemasonry in the state capital.

The special exhibition sheds light on Freemasonry from its beginnings through its heyday and the period of persecution and prohibition to its new beginning after 1990, placing it in its historical, social, and cultural context.

The exhibition shows that Freemasonry was not a marginal phenomenon, but was at the center of urban life – supported by Magdeburg citizens who were involved in business, the military, charity, and education and who had a lasting impact on the development of the city.

The thematic approach is divided into two visitor routes that can be combined. A chronological tour traces the development of Freemasonry in Magdeburg. A second visitor route is dedicated to the symbols, rituals, and practices of Freemasonry and opens up an iconographic and contextual perspective on its values, self-image, and traditions.

On display are objects from the collection of the Cultural History Museum in Magdeburg, as well as numerous items on loan from the Harpokrates Masonic Lodge and other sources.

The special exhibition invites visitors to discover a previously little-known part of Magdeburg's city history. It provides access to a topic that is often associated with uncertainty or misunderstanding and allows visitors to experience Freemasonry as an integral part of urban society.

Guided tours are offered regularly to accompany the special exhibition, including tours by members of the Harpokrates Masonic Lodge. Additional formats are planned in cooperation with the Magdeburg Adult Education Center. The exhibition is presented in the lower gallery of the Kaiser Otto Hall and can be viewed during the museum's normal opening hours.