On 21 June 1905, Karl and Bertha Benz purchased property (no. 4180) in Ladenburg, only a few steps away from the banks of the Neckar, for the sum of 48,500 gold marks. Karl Benz lived here until his death on 4 April 1929. His wife Bertha Benz died here on 5 May 1944.
The property included a park, in which Benz built what is considered to be the first car workshop in the world in the style of a fortified tower. He kept his Benz Victoria here and could pursue his engineering activities undisturbed. Benz had the house redesigned on two occasions. A veranda with flat roof was constructed in 1921. Several years later, the house was adapted to its current design. The extension on the south side across the entire gable end increased the size of the building by almost a third.
Relatives of Karl and Bertha Benz remained in the house until 1969, when it became the property of the town of Ladenburg. Daimler-Benz AG (as it was at the time) purchased the house in 1985.
After extensive renovation work, an exhibition was opened on the ground floor to celebrate the engineering achievements of Karl Benz. The collection includes demonstration models of his most prominent inventions, the axle-pivot steering system, the electric ignition using spark plugs and the surface carburettor. A reproduction of the Patent Motor Car and his workbench as well as a number of his personal possessions offer a living reminder of one of the leading pioneers in automotive history.
Today the Karl Benz House is used primarily as headquarters and a conference venue for the Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz Foundation, which was established in 1986 on the 100-year anniversary of the invention of the automobile. Recalling the profound changes to society brought about by the inventions of Gottlieb Daimler and Karl Benz, the Foundation aims to promote science and research in order to gain a better understanding of the correlation between man, the environment and technology. Its main areas of support lie in the interdisciplinary research of these subjects. The Foundation is financed from the revenue generated by the assets donated by Daimler-Benz AG (as it was at the time) and the current DaimlerChrysler AG.
Special areas of support include:
- Ladenburg Discourse: interdisciplinary and international discussion on the correlation between man, the environment and technology
- Ladenburg College: promoting research within interdisciplinary projects
- Bertha Benz Lecture: talks and lectures presented by renowned female scientists