The Historical Museum takes a rather avant-garde approach to introducing visitors to three significant eras of Strasbourg's history: first is the free city of the Holy Roman Empire (1262-1681), illustrated by objects found during archaeological digs. The exhibition then moves onto the royal and revolutionary city (1681-1800), the centrepiece of which is the model of Strasbourg by Ladevèze in 1727. The final part of the museum is dedicated to the birth of a metropolis (19C and 20C).