After a three-year, $50 million conservation and renewal program, the new Tower of David Jerusalem Museum opens as the capital’s official museum, June 1.
- New multi-level sunken entrance pavilion at the Jaffa Gate offers a new gateway to the Old City. The new visitor flow, integral to the museum’s concept, allows visitors to first better understand Jerusalem’s history through its new exhibition and provides food for thought to contemplate the complex reality of the Old City before entering its streets and alleyways.
- 10 completely new thematic galleries, telling Jerusalem’s 4,000-year story, and its centrality to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam with models of the Second Temple, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the Dome of the Rock.
- Innovative and engaging content, including interactive, 12-meter multi-media wall (largest in Israel), 3-D digital modeling, video mapping, immersive 360 video installation, interactive sphere (first in Israel), 14 interactive maps, new animation films by Ari Folman and others
- Authentic artifacts, some dating back to approx. 1500 years BCE and many displayed in-situ for the first time.
- Citadel accessible to all visitors with ambitious Accessibility Program and first-of-its-kind elevator in Israel, chair lifts and ramps.
- Conservation of ancient citadel’s walls and minaret.
- Museum area doubled to over 20,000 square meters.
Eilat Lieber, Director and Chief Curator, Tower of David Jerusalem Museum:
“No other museum can tell Jerusalem’s story in such a distinctive setting, within this citadel, that has witnessed so many eventful periods in the city's past. The iconic architecture, massive Jerusalem stone walls and beautifully arched ceiling guard rooms create a unique setting for this museum which will become the gateway to this unique city. Alongside the physical conservation of the walls and towers of this ancient site, we have developed a completely new permanent exhibition and creative programming that tells Jerusalem's long, complex and colorful history in respectful, innovative and engaging ways. Whether it is a school child from Israel – or a visitor from overseas, I hope that the Tower of David can give them a basis for dialogue, tolerance and respect. These are the things that will make the world a better place and visitors from near and far will leave the museum with a better understanding of Jerusalem, this eternal city.”
Jerusalem, May 22, 2023 - After more than a decade in planning and three years of construction with a multi-disciplinary team of archaeologists, architects, curators, researchers, designers and creatives, the new Tower of David Jerusalem Museum opens to the public in the ancient citadel as the capital’s official museum on June 1st.
The $50 million renewal and conservation of the Tower of David Jerusalem Museum was led by Dame Vivien Duffield through the Clore Israel Foundation together with the support of the Municipality of Jerusalem, the Ministry of Jerusalem and Jewish Tradition, the Ministry of Heritage, the Ministry of Tourism, the Patrick and Lina Drahi Foundation, Keren Hayesod, The Jerusalem Foundation, the American Friends of Museums in Israel and the P Austin Family Foundation.
The Tower of David citadel, located between the old and new city, layered with nearly 3,000 years of history, is uniquely placed to tell the story of Jerusalem, a city that has no equal in the world. With its new visitor flow - from the Jaffa Gate entrance pavilion through the galleries, the Phasael Tower observation point and exiting into the Old City - the Tower of David Jerusalem Museum becomes the gateway to the exploration of Jerusalem. Integral to the museum’s new concept, this allows visitors to first better understand Jerusalem’s history through its new exhibition and provides food for thought to contemplate the complex reality of the Old City before entering its streets and alleyways.
The museum's new permanent exhibition begins with an interactive exploration of Jerusalem’s linear urban and cultural development. The next three galleries trace the sanctity of Jerusalem and its religious significance in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, weaving history and artifacts into the spiritual sphere with models of the Second Temple, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the Dome of Rock. The journey through Jerusalem's story, told in the different rooms of the citadel, takes the visitor through to the 21st century, focusing on the events and developments that have shaped the city in recent history, and continue to influence its present-day identity as the capital of the State of Israel. These include the completely restored Illés model of Jerusalem, made for the 1873 Vienna World Fair, that offers a unique bird’s eye view of Jerusalem at that time; and the development of modern-day Jerusalem shown through the prism of photography and film.
The galleries are arranged in a thematic-chronological order. While they do create a story together, each one can also stand on its own. Interdisciplinary methods have been used to convey the complex experience that represents the story of the city: history, geography, archeology, literature and theology, film and photography, culture studies, music and more.
Tal Kobo, Curator of the permanent exhibition: " Jerusalem has been invaded, conquered, destroyed and rebuilt– it has been independent and has submitted to empires and civilizations – but never been abandoned. These levels of history are still evident today and define the landscape and culture of the city, making Jerusalem one of the most fascinating cities in the world. It is a tremendous responsibility to curate an exhibition about this unique city".
The renewal and conservation project, which ensured the integrity of the ancient spaces and stones, was undertaken in partnership with the Israel Antiquities Authority. Excavations were carried out by a team of archaeologists in different areas of the citadel complex, followed by a complex conservation program.
Under the inspired direction of Kimmel Eshkolot Architects, Prof Etan Kimmel and lead architect Yotam Cohen-Sagi, the ancient citadel that was built as a fortress to keep people out, was transformed into a welcoming and accessible environment, ready to house a modern museum and everything that entailed. Etan Kimmel, Founder, Kimmel Eshkolot Architects on the architectural challenge: “The opportunity to bring the 21st century to this ancient iconic site is both a responsibility and an honor. We were set the task of renovating one of the earliest and most important architectural treasures of Jerusalem. Our challenge boiled down to our ability to find solutions to preserve the ancient stones which represent Jerusalem’s past without compromising their historic value or their beauty, all the while planning new architectural structures and introducing modern infrastructure using modern materials to create a fruitful, interesting meeting between the new and the old. Ever-present in our planning was our respect for this ancient structure." The result is a fully accessible museum with over 85 percent of the citadel being accessible with the newly leveled entrances to the ancient guardrooms, elevators and ramps as well as modern infrastructure, technology and networks being hidden from view.
Studio de Lange, Prof Chanan de Lange and Architect Tal Roih de Lange, developed the concept design and the permanent exhibition design of the new museum. Chanan de Lange: “This project was exceptional. To design a contemporary up-to-date exhibition in an international museum housed in a building with historical, archaeological, and cultural layers, stretching back 3,000 years of history was a challenging and unique opportunity. We created a site-specific museum experience with a modern, clean and accessible design. We adopted a minimalist and gentle approach and celebrated clean open spaces."
This minimalistic and delicate design stands in contrast to the existing powerful citadel structure. In order to balance the quantity of content, the original guardrooms of the citadel are left uncluttered with only a few wall texts. The design concept reflects the museum's wish to be used as a basis for discussion about Jerusalem and this continuing dialogue between Jerusalem's history and the present-day city can be felt in every room as Studio de Lange chose to open the existing windows of the citadel. For example, the visitor can study limestone vessels from 1st century Jerusalem against the backdrop of a view of Mishkenot Sha’ananim, thanks to vitrines created in the citadel’s arched window spaces. The design cleverly combines three main ways to engage the visitor with the history of Jerusalem: through authentic artifacts, each one carefully picked to tell different aspects of Jerusalem's history; through technology and multimedia – throughout the museum great detail has been given to the layers of technology that bring the stories to life; and through audio-visual where an audio guide will accompany visitors through the visually striking exhibition rooms. Architect Tal Roih de Lange "The result is a sensory experience that encourages active participation and allows visitors to engage in Jerusalem's history in various dynamic, stimulating and enjoyable ways."
Creative digital media, directed by Yoav Cohen, features digital storytelling and interactive media designed for meaningful engagement throughout the museum’s galleries. The 12-meter interactive multi-media wall, Sands of Time, that runs the length of the introductory gallery allows visitors to discover for themselves Jerusalem's 4000-year history with just a quick touch. The media concept for this interactive installation was designed by award-winning experience design firm Local Projects, responsible for the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, amongst others, in the US. The end-design and programming were carried out by Shortcut Playground, Israel. Other highlights include the animation of a map from 1584 depicting Jerusalem during the time of the Second Temple; the 3D scanning of a bird's eye view of 19th century model of Jerusalem and the recreation of the interactive projection on a copy of the 6th century mosaic Madaba Map of Jerusalem, an interactive sphere of the world which is the only one in Israel and more.
Films created for the museum include an animated history of 4,000 years of Jerusalem history in three minutes by Golden Globe winner artist Ari Folman; several animated short films related to different periods based on archaeological and historical evidence, together with research and the reconstruction from Yeshiva University NY, the visualization of the Arch of Titus; a 360-degree filming inside the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa mosque that allows visitors to "enter" into these holy sites. An original film of Jerusalem from 1896, including footage by the Lumiere brothers, has been edited to bring to life Jerusalem at the turn of the 20th century. A montage of images from different religious festivals are projected onto one of the vaulted ceilings in a guardroom. Created by David Polonsky, one of the most important illustrators working in Israel today, the seven-minute experience allows the three calendars of Judaism, Christianity and Islam to converge in an only-in-Jerusalem manner.
The Museum kicks off its first summer season with a special opening event for the public on June 1st with events throughout the month ending with the last weekend in June with a back-to-back program of guided tours, all starting at the Tower of David and spreading out into both the old and the new city. In July, an interactive multi-media exhibition "Street Games" allows the visitor to become the "architect of the city" with well-known Jerusalem streets in the new Gallery space dedicated to changing exhibitions. Throughout the summer, there are activities for families and children. For more information and ticket purchase, please see our website www.tod.org.il
Dame Vivien Duffield, Chairman of the Clore Israel Foundation: We hope that we have created a striking 21st century museum that has balanced the architectural and structural preservation of the ancient fortress against adaptation for exhibitions that now contain artifacts with a wealth of modern technologies. Today, the museum is the center for learning and knowledge, leading to dialogue and understanding in this city. The Tower of David should continue to be a beacon of peace, tolerance, and coexistence among the inhabitants of this extraordinary mosaic of people who live in this wonderful city.”
President of the State of Israel, Isaac Herzog: In the book Song of Songs, King Solomon writes, “Like the Tower of David is your neck, built as a fortress.” Indeed, thanks to its fantastic location and its extraordinary appearance, this citadel has become throughout the ages a symbol of the magic and longing for this city and for everything that it represents. The generous support of Dame Vivien Duffield and all the partners involved have facilitated not only the preservation of the citadel but also the extensive renovation of the archaeological park and the establishment of galleries and new exhibits, as well as the renewal of infrastructure and improvements for accessibility.”
Mayor of Jerusalem Moshe Lion: “The Jerusalem municipality is honored to be a leading partner in the conservation and renewal of the Tower of David Jerusalem Museum. Jerusalem is like no other city, and the Tower of David Jerusalem Museum is like no other city museum. The ancient citadel has been the symbol of the city through the ages and one of the most important historic and archaeological heritage sites in the world. The new Tower of David Jerusalem Museum at the Jaffa Gate will serve as the new gateway to Jerusalem for the millions of visitors, tourists and pilgrims who want to explore the city’s rich and complex history before visiting the religious sites and ancient alleyways of the Old City.”
Eli Escusido, Director of the Israel Antiquities Authority: "The extensive renewal and conservation of the Tower of David are an unusual opportunity for us in the Israel Antiquities Authority to re-examine and learn more about one of the most fascinating sites in Jerusalem.
Our archaeologists discovered ancient fortifications, hidden passageways, previously unknown rooms, and more. The meticulous conservation of the minaret by the conservation department of the Israel Antiquities Authority will allow the Tower of David minaret to stand strong for many generations to come. The story of the citadel continues to be revealed in front of our eyes, and now will be presented to the public within the framework of the new museum."
Eilat Lieber - Director and Chief Curator of the Tower of David Jerusalem Museum, Tal Kobo - Curator of the Permanent Exhibition, Yael Brandt – Assistant Curator, Kimmel Eshkolot Architects: Prof Etan Kimmel Co-Founder and Lead Architect Yotam Cohen-Sagi, Studio de Lange: Prof. Chanan de Lange and Arch. Tal de Lange - Concept and permanent exhibition design, Yoav Cohen – Creative and Digital Media Director
About the Tower of David Jerusalem Museum
Located at the Jaffa Gate entrance to the Old City, the Tower of David Jerusalem Museum resides within the ancient citadel, once the fortress defending the city. Today, it stands as a prominent cultural institution, intertwining the historical narrative of Jerusalem with its significance to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Its archaeological excavations reveal the city's evolution across 3,000 years, while educational programs, guided tours, workshops, and lectures offer immersive learning experiences. The museum showcases temporary exhibitions featuring Jerusalem's contemporary expressions in art, design, architecture and more. The museum rests on the seam between modern and ancient Jerusalem and its towers offer spectacular 360-degree views of the entire city, new and old. As daylight fades, the citadel walls transform into a canvas for mesmerizing sound and light displays, projecting the history of Jerusalem and the tale of King David in huge breathtaking images. The museum, an independent nonprofit, strives to honor its commitment to preserving Jerusalem's rich heritage.
General information / about accessibility at the museum Phone: 02-626-5393 email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
To order guided tours: 02-626-5347
To order tickets : *2884 | 02-626-5333
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