Once considered scandalous, the Viennese waltz ultimately became a defining ballroom tradition and a favorite pastime of Vienna’s high society. In the Ninth District, the Museum of the Johann Strauss Dynasty celebrates the legacy of the Strauss family with a permanent collection and rotating displays. A temporary exhibition marking the 150th anniversary of the Blue Danube Waltz runs through Dec. 31. The museum traces the lives and works of father Johann Strauss I, his sons Eduard, Josef and Johann II, and grandson Johann III across 14 themed zones. Visitors encounter photographs, original documents and audio stations that play both the family’s most famous pieces and lesser-known works. Note that the museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
For more musical exploration, the Vienna Library’s new exhibit, Danube, so Blue, examines the cultural and historical impact of the Blue Danube. Housed within the City Hall building, the exhibit complements visits to the Johann Strauss Apartment at Praterstrasse 54, the family’s former residence now open as a museum. There, original furnishings, period instruments, portraits, photographs and documents offer insight into the Strauss family’s daily life and creative process.