I just read RS favorite memories of 2008 & he mentioned being able to visit some rooms not open to the public that are furnished as they were when they were used. My first visit was about 25 yrs ago and my 2nd a few yrs ago in the redone museum. I remember seeing furnished rooms on the first trip & was disappointed with the museum my 2nd trip.
Was anyone else at the museum 20-30 yrs ago & do you remember the rooms being furnished? I wonder if I'm just not remembering it correctly.
Rose, I think you may be right. I visited The Anne Frank House even earlier--1973--so I am straining to remember details, but I recall furniture. What I wouldn't want to swear to, would be how authentic it was. I recall being very impressed, but sadly the details of that trip, which was a long weekend with two night trains in second class, seem to be more about the pickle jar that rolled around on the floor the train compartment all night than the specifics of the house. I hope someone else who either kept a good diary or more sleep an no pickle jar will respond as well. ; ) Pam
I went in 1986, and that's how I remember it also. Took my husband last year, and was disappointed in the lack of "authenticity" this time.
My husband and I visited the Frank house the first week it was open to the public...which would have been about 1960. If there was furniture there was very little of it. I mostly recall the guide telling us about the rooms, where they were hidden, etc.
My first visit was '98 and then again in 2001 & '02. As I remember the rooms 'above' the secret passageway had very little furniture. In fact, there were in the centre of a few of the empty rooms some models, similar to a doll house with the roof removed, showing what the rooms looked like with furniture during the Franks' time in hiding. Some of Anne's magazine cutouts remained (covered with plexiglass) hanging/glued on the walls.
I recall reading that when Otto Frank returned after the war he found his warehouse building had been looted; including the hiding spaces in the attic/annex. He apparently insisted they remain as he found them as a reminder/memorial/sad image??? of what happened to his family and many others.
Oddly enough, our local high school just finished a production of "The Diary of Anne Frank". During my research, I discovered that the furnishings in the annex were completely destroyed by the nazis upon the discovery of the family's in hiding. According to some sources, there are no actual photographs that remain of what the rooms were furnished with. There are only the memories of the survivors--Mr. Frank and his secretary Meipe(sp?).If you google the above title you can get lots of info about the museum and other related details.
my question is whether there was ever (25-30 yrs ago)any furnishings in the museum rooms. I don't necessarily mean original furnishings. To me, furniture would make it easier to imagine their daily lives. For some reason, I remember some being there. I did refer to the museum website before posting this & read that Otto preferred it to be unfurnished. But I have certain memories of my first visit & I was just asking.
In case anyone is interested, the BBC is showing a new mini-series that they made, of Anne Franks diary. We just watched the first installment last night and it looks quite good.
If you are ever in Frankfurt, you can also go see where she and her sister were born, and also the 2nd house that they lived in here. Anne and Margot both have their names on the Holocaust Memorial Wall in Frankfurt.
Hi Rose, I went to Anne Frank house in 1983 (wow time flies) and I also remember furniture. It may have been along time ago, but your memory is still correct : )
