Hamburg-Wilhelmsburg is today a vibrant district in Hamburg-Mitte, characterized by a sense of tradition on one side and new cultural influences on the other. Just a few decades ago, it was primarily the industry and its workers' settlements that defined the appearance of Wilhelmsburg, which was an independent area until the 1920s. Peter Beenk, the volunteer archivist of the Elbinsel Wilhelmsburg Museum, and journalist Uwe Wetzner document the transformation from an agrarian island to a significant industrial site. About 200 fascinating motifs from the museum's collection showcase 100 years of architectural changes, work, and living environments. Shipbuilding, the port, and the numerous local industries contributed to Wilhelmsburg's economic success, but they also shaped the social life of the people.