Because, from 1927, Anklam has a local history museum that displays objects of life and work of Otto Lilienthal, aviation pioneer, and a replica of the glider Normalsegelapparat (normal glider).

In 1972 the museum moved to the present building. In 1980 a specific museum is dedicated to Otto Lilienthal and the local history museum in the tower is transferred Anklamer Steintor in 1989.

In 1991, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first flight of Lilienthal, The Otto Lilienthal Museum was inaugurated.

In 1996, the 100th anniversary of the death of Otto Lilienthal, a new hall was opened with an additional area of 300 m². The permanent exhibition shows replicas of all famous aircraft construction Lilienthal and his buildings dedicated to aerodynamic tests.

It’s also, in 1996 that the museum has been awarded the title "FAI Recognized Museum" from the International Organisation of Aeronautics FAI, and in 1999 the museum was the first one in the former East-Germany area which was awarded the "European Museum of the Year Award - Special Commendation". The state minister for culture and media of the Federal Republique of Germany awarded the museum the title "German National Memorial" since 2001.

The museum houses the largest collection of Lilienthal machines, originals or replicas, including reproductions of the "Normal Glider":one by Richter in 1925 and several by Nitsch, who also built the accurate 1/5-scale replica of the "Model Stölln". Above, highlighted by a large sunroom, big Biplane of 1895.
Below left, the wings folded of the glider that Lilienthal named "Modell 93 - convertible flight apparatus with 14 qm [150 sq. ft.] wing surface". This is the first glider of the new, convertible bat-like construction. Collapsed, the glider measures 6.6 x 10.5 x 1.6 feet. This construction is legally protected with a patent. It is the basis of the later named "Normalapparat" (normal glider).

The museum has a large collection of delta and numerous models that describe how the ancient dream of flight, as these superb models of balloons and airships,gave substance to the history of the aviation

But the museum is not only an exhibition of flying machines, is also a documentation center on the history of flight. The museum's archives contain everything that is known about Lilienthal, essays, documents, including a photo archive : The 137 known photos from the period between 1891 to 1896, which were made during Lilienthal's test flights, are documents not only of aviation history, but of the history of photography as well.

The museum is also an educational center on the flight. Numerous workshops on the flight, the lift of a wing, understand the intrados and extrados ... are available to the public. "Learning to Fly" and "Physics of Flight" to show visitors how it is so difficult to fly. Although all explanations are given, some workshops are not used correctly. As shown in the photo above right, the little girl has reversed the position of the legs and arms. She should put her arms through the openings. She did not read all instructions!.

Many experimental devices for measurement and reactions in the wind. And the Otto and Gustav Lilienthal brothers were very prolific inventors: steam locomotives, toys, ... On the other hand, the method of Lilienthal flying is very close to the sporting gliding flight today. In the 1970s there was a revival of this flight technique. Inspired by kite flexible Francis Rogallo, an engineer at NASA, the Australian John Dickenson has redeveloped the system in the 1960s. This is why there is a collection of flat delta at the museum Otto-Lilienthal-Museum.
There are many different center of interests in of this fantastic museum that we recommend.

Otto Lilienthal's First Film - Johannes Hogebrink

replica of the apparatus of "normal glider" Otto Lilienthal
built by Stephan Nitsch and flown by Tony Prentice