Why do people leave their homes?

In times before and during the emigration over the Emigration Halls in Hamburg, reasons to leave ones home did not strongly contrast with present-day causes to search new homeland.

The most common reason for emigration was the wish for a more stabile economy, which did not exist in the country emigrants currently lived in. Bad harvests and famines did not lead to people leaving their homes, but strengthened their desire to seek for new homeland, with more promising future prospects.

Hundred thousands of people in Germany suffered from a great

business depression after the foundation of the “Deutsche Reich” in the year 1870, which had the effect that twelve years later, in the year 1882, 250.000 people emigrated from Germany – a matchless record.

Political or religious persecution often resulted in emigration, due to rays of hope, that their religious or political beliefs get tolerated in foreign countries.

The BallinStadt is a place telling stories of millions of people walking on uncertain ways to find a better life in the New World.

About five million people emigrated over Hamburg and have set their goals to achieve their hopes and dreams abroad.

The BallinStadt is an experience where people of all ages can feel the spirit of emigration, which was tailwind for people of numerous nations 100 years ago.

Living pictures revive the everyday-life of emigrants and touch everybody who also has hopes and dreams.

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