The Hernals District Museum's permanent exhibition offers a comprehensive overview of the district's history, from its origins as wine-growing villages to its development into a city district. It highlights key aspects such as the legendary Schrammelquartett, former entertainment venues, local industries, and notable figures.
The permanent exhibition at the Hernals District Museum delves into the multifaceted history of the district, covering its transformation from villages like Hernals, Dornbach, and Neuwaldegg into a modern urban area. The display prominently features the legendary "Wiener Schrammelquartett" and its founders, providing insights into their music and the broader context of Viennese folk music. It also explores the district's past through sections dedicated to former entertainment venues, the significance of wine cultivation, historical factories, businesses, and shops that shaped Hernals. Artefacts from notable personalities, such as Josef BRATFISCH, the Leibfiaker of Crown Prince Rudolf, and opera singer Betty FISCHER, are exhibited, alongside memorabilia of the Schrammel brothers. The museum also touches upon the district's religious history, artistic figures, and the development of transportation, including Engelmann, the world's first artificial ice rink.
Founded in 1935, the museum has a rich history, initially opening in 1938 and evolving through various administrative changes during the wartime period. After facing damage in 1945, it was re-established and expanded its collections significantly under Prof. Franz Zabusch. Since 1966, it has been housed in its current location within the Jugendstil building of the former Hernalser Sparkassa, now part of Bank Austria Unicredit, on Hernalser Hauptstraße. The museum actively engages with the community, hosting changing special exhibitions on local themes, readings, events with artists, and educational programs for school groups, while also sharing its collections through slide shows in various institutions.