The Bern Historical Museum occupies a turreted castle-like building from 1894 on Helvetiaplatz, south of the Old Town. The permanent collection spans prehistoric artefacts to modern Swiss history, with particular strength in medieval material. The ground floor has a full-scale reproduction of a Bernese patrician house interior, including original furnishings.
The Einstein Museum on the upper floors is a substantial standalone exhibition covering Einstein's life and work. It goes considerably deeper than the Einstein Haus on Kramgasse, with original documents, personal belongings, and an extensive treatment of his years in Bern, his scientific breakthroughs, and his later political engagement. A combined ticket covers both the historical collection and the Einstein Museum.