In Search of the World of Yesterday
In late September, we welcomed a descendant of the von Trapps, the family that The Sound of Music made famous worldwide.
Military Order of Maria Theresa
We Have Identified Maria Theresa’s Unique Diamond-Set Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Stephen
More than a century after it disappeared from view, Maria Theresa’s unique diamond-set Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Stephen has been identified. One part of this exceptional insignia, long believed to have been lost, is preserved in the collection of the Otto von Habsburg Foundation.
History Pinned to a Tailcoat
At his wedding, in keeping with tradition, Otto von Habsburg was adorned not only by his formal attire: the historical orders and decorations pinned to his tailcoat conveyed a complex range of messages.
Beyond The Sound of Music – The Friendship Between the von Trapp and Habsburg Families
The Sound of Music remains one of America’s most beloved musical productions, both on stage and on screen. Yet the story of the von Trapp family reaches far beyond Hollywood romance: their lives were deeply intertwined with the turbulent history of twentieth-century Central Europe and with the Habsburg dynasty itself. Documents preserved in our collection shed new light on the remarkable layers of this relationship.
