Ottoneum [Kassel]
Ottoneum
theatre building
Duits nationaal monument in Kassel
Built 1603-1606 as a theatre by Wilhelm Vernukken for Landgrave Moritz von Hessen-Kassel. Named in honour of Moritz's son, Otto von Hessen-Kassel (1594-1617). The Ottoneum was the first stand-alone building in Germany purposely built as a theatre. - 1696 rebuilding and conversion to an arts and natural history museum. 1943 damaged by bombs. 1949-1954 rebuilding. Used as a natural history museum.