The museum illustrates the history of the city of Durlach, which was first settled during the Roman era and remained a free city until 1938. Durlach, a creation of the Swabian dynasty, was the residence of the Margrave of Baden-Durlach from 1565 to 1718 before it developed into an industrial centre in the 19th century.
A model of Karlsburg before 1689, a model of the city in 1800, a large collection of Durlach faience from the 18th and 19th centuries, records of Durlach industrial enterprises, plus a variety of documents, paintings and photos shed light on the largest city district in modern-day Karlsruhe.