Bonn, Rheingasse 7, Wohnung der Familie Beethoven, Schmuckblatt zur Erinnerung an das Beethovenfest 1845 - Lithographie von Franz Michelis, wohl nach einem eigenen Entwurf, Bonn, um 1845

Beethoven"s parents moved to different apartments within Bonn several times. For a long time during the 19th century, people had not been sure, where the composer"s birthplace really was. Apart from the house in the street, 20 Bonngasse, where the museum is located today, above all, a house in the street Rheingasse in Bonn was said to be his birthplace. The Beethoven family had lived in the second floor of this house for several years during most of Ludwig van Beethoven"s childhood. In Bonn, for a long time, that was the reason why this building was said to be Beethoven"s birthplace. However, it is known for a long time now, that the van Beethoven family moved into this house, when the composer was already around five years old. The "second Beethoven-Haus of Bonn" had been rebuilt several times and existed only until 1944. The whole street was destroyed by fire that year and had not been reconstructed. (S.B.)