400 Years of Reeperbahn
As part of the 400th anniversary of the Reeperbahn, the Museum of Hamburg History is organising a range of guided tours (German only) through the Neustadt and St. Pauli neighbourhoods and exploring the history of the Reeperbahn from 1626 to the present day.
In addition to the ‘Museum without Walls’, the Sankt Pauli Office has also converted its basement into a library, housing not only specialist literature, illustrated books and historical texts, but also historical artefacts relating to St. Pauli.
One of the highlights of the Reeperbahn anniversary is this year’s Hamburg Tug-of-War Championship, which will take place on 29 May at the Heiligengeistfeld. The event aims to attract groups of friends or teams from companies, clubs or organisations; entry fees will be donated to the charity Hamburg Leuchtfeuer.
History of the Reeperbahn
The Reeperbahn started out in the 17th century as an unassuming but important centre for craftsmanship. In fact, the name Reeperbahn, despite superficial similarity, has nothing to do with the grim reaper, but derives from the production of ship’s rigging: Low German reep is closely related in both form and meaning to English ‘rope’, and in the olden days, a reeper was a ‘rope-maker’.
As the trade in ropes flourished, so did the neighbourhood’s infrastructure: taverns, inns and small shops gradually began to spring up. As early as the 18th and 19th centuries, the neighbourhood had developed into a blend of working-class life, harbour atmosphere and entertainment venues.
From 1900 onwards, the area experienced a rapid boom: countless entertainment venues, pubs, theatres and brothels were established, transforming the Reeperbahn into the world-famous red-light and entertainment district it is known as today.
Special Connection to the Beatles
On 17 August 1960, the career of one of the world’s most famous bands, The Beatles, began in Hamburg. That evening, the Fab Four took to the stage for the first time at the Indra Club on Große Freiheit street off the Reeperbahn. Bruno Koschmider, a prominent figure in Hamburg’s nightlife at the time, was on the lookout for English bands for his clubs. He had turned to his Liverpool-based business partner, Allan Williams, who put him in touch with the Beatles.
From there, things really took off. More background on the Beatles in Hamburg: A Musical Career in Hamburg.
For more Information, see the History of the Reeperbahn.
