Agfa Foto-Historama

An important photo-history collection with around 20,000 cameras – today part of the Photographic Collection of Museum Ludwig.

Photography Part of Museum Ludwig Indoor

The Agfa Foto-Historama is one of Europe's most important photo-history collections. It comprises around 20,000 cameras and devices, more than 12,000 photographs from the earliest days of photography, and an extensive specialist library.

Source: Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-06-23

At a glance

Core: the collection of Erich Stenger, once the world's largest private photo-history collection
From 1955: expanded by Agfa-Gevaert
Since 1986: at Museum Ludwig in Cologne
Today: part of the "Photographic Collection" of Museum Ludwig

From private collector to museum

Its core is the collection of photo-chemist Erich Stenger, taken over by Agfa from 1955 and systematically expanded. In 1985 it became a permanent loan to the city of Cologne; since 1986 it has been shown at Museum Ludwig. In 2005 the photo collection was recognised as national cultural heritage and acquired by the city.

Visitor note

The Agfa Foto-Historama is not a standalone museum but part of the Photographic Collection of Museum Ludwig. Holdings are accessible there and online in the museum database.