Mission and Identity:
The mission of the Wende Museum is to preserve Cold War history, inspire a broad understanding of the period, and explore its enduring legacy. Named for the transformative period leading up to and following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the Museum
collects and preserves art work, artifacts, archives, films, and personal histories from Cold-War era Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union;
challenges and engages the public through experimental exhibitions and interdisciplinary programming inspired by the collection;
illuminates the past and informs the present through creative collaborations with contemporary artists and designers; and
promotes rigorous scholarship, educates students, and stimulates general interest through lectures, symposia and publications.