A legendary hotelier – Frau Emma Hellenstainer 1817-1904

A Touriseum special exhibition in the coach house of Trauttmansdorff Castle

28/05/2004 Special exhibition
South Tyrol Museum of Tourism

28.05.-15.11.2004

The exhibition documented the life of the innkeeper and hotelier, Emma Hellenstainer. Her life story offered an interesting insight into the various roles of a successful woman hotelier in the 19th century.

The historical figure was presented as wife, mother, cook, entrepreneur and pioneer in the field of tourism. This offered fascinating opportunities to draw parallels with the current situation of women in the hotel and catering trade.

The subject of catering was represented by means of a display that showed the activities associated with the kitchen and service, from both inside and outside. Exhibits such as tablecloths, menus, and historic napkin figures were presented as aspects of professionalisation.

The biographical information was displayed by means of a family tree arranged with exhibits. Among the various items, Emma's christening robe, prayer book, and her famous cookery book were to be seen.

The family tree illustrated the successful expansion of the family, which led to the creation of a notable hotel dynasty. The Hellenstainer family's hotels, scattered throughout Tyrol, were represented by cubic elements which presented the history of these hotels graphically.

In one area, a film, made for the Touriseum by Markus Larcher and Jochen Unterhofer, linking the life of hotelier Emma with the present day, was shown. Another film by Karl Prossliner presented the views of present-day women hoteliers.

The exhibition catalogue

Frau Emma Europa – Eine große Gastwirtin 

Available in German and Italian.