Exploring Vienna's Past: The Findelhaus and Gebäranstalt Social History Exhibition

This exhibition explores the history of the Findelhaus (foundling home) and Gebärhaus (maternity house) in Vienna's 8th and 9th districts, examining their role in social, gender, and medical history. It delves into the lives of women who used these institutions and the fate of the children born there.

The special exhibition »Vor Schand und Noth gerettet«?! Findelhaus, Gebäranstalt und die Matriken der Alser Vorstadt, presented at the Bezirksmuseum Josefstadt and developed in collaboration with the Wien Museum, offers an in-depth look at the historical institutions of the Findelhaus and Gebärhaus within Vienna's 8th and 9th districts. These institutions were crucial for addressing the societal challenges of unwanted children and became pivotal in the history of gender, social, and medical practices. The exhibition contextualizes the Gebärhaus's founding in 1784 as part of the General Hospital, established to provide a refuge for disadvantaged women and protect infants. It highlights the intersection of public welfare, restrictive social norms, and the development of obstetrics and medicine. The Gebärhaus was closely linked to the Wiener Findelhaus, founded in the same year and located from 1788 in Alserstraße 23, which cared for approximately 750,000 children between 1784 and 1910, typically placing them with rural foster families. The exhibition draws on about 100 historical objects, graphics, and reproductions from over 20 institutions, including historical photographs, documents, and medical equipment, to illustrate the complex reality of these institutions and their evolution over more than a century. It concludes by reflecting on contemporary issues of female autonomy and reproductive rights, with newly interpreted "Findelkind-Lieder" (foundling songs) available at an audio station and a comprehensive publication accompanying the exhibition.

Information regarding ticketing or admission is not explicitly detailed on this exhibition page. Visitors are directed to general museum information for further details. The page mentions the opening was broadcast on the YouTube channel of the Wiener Bezirksmuseen and that a publication is available for purchase. An adaptation of an art intervention was also shown in the museum from June 2021 onwards. No pricing or specific booking requirements for the exhibition itself are provided on this page, suggesting general museum admission may apply, but this is not confirmed within the text.