DEUTSCHLAND	GERMANY
Bundesland: Hessen	Hesse
Regierungsbezirk: Darmstadt
Stadt: Offenbach am Main

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Offenbach am Main is situated at an elevation of 108 m in the left bank of the Main river, opposite of Frankfurt am Main. Offenbach am Main has a population of about 119,000 (2004).

The earliest written mention of Offenbach dates from 977 AD. During the following centuries Offenbach had many different sovereigns. Among the earliest owners were the counts of Isenburg who chose Offenbach as their residence in 1559. After the Congress of Vienna in 1815, Offenbach at first came under Austrian sovereignty before it was given to the Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt in 1816. In 1832 the town became the administrative seat of the district Offenbach, which was created out of the former districts of Langen, Offenbach and Seligenstadt. In 1938 Offenbach am Main became independent of the district but remained the seat of the district administration. In 2002 the administrative seat of the district Offenbach was moved to Dietzenbach.

Isenburg castle [bottom left picture] is the best-known sight and landmark of Offenbach am Main. The castle was first mentioned in 1448. The present castle was built in Renaissance style in 1556–1559 by the counts of Isenburg who in 1559 moved their residence from Birstein im Vogelsberg to Offenbach. After a large fire in 1564 the castle was rebuilt and received the characteristic Renaissance galleries. A further storey was added in the 18th century. In 1900 the castle came in possession of the Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt. The upper two floors were destroyed during an Allied bomb raid during World War II, but were restored in 1952/1953. Today, the castle is used by the city council of Offenbach am Main, and the Offenbach University for Design.

The bottom right picture on glass no. 1990 shows Aliceplatz. The square was named for Grand Duchess Alice of Hesse and by Rhine, Princess of Great Britain and Ireland. HRH The Princess Alice (b.1843) was the third child and second daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. In 1862 she married Prince Ludwig of Hesse and by Rhine. In 1877 Ludwig succeeded his uncle as Grand Duke Ludwig IV of Hesse-Darmstadt. In 1878, the ducal family fell issue with diphtheria. Alice died on the 14th December and was buried at Rosenhöhe, the mausoleum for the Grand Ducal House of Hesse outside of Darmstadt.

The Hauptbahnhof (Main Railway Station) was built in 1873 for the new railroad between Hanau and Frankfurt am Main. At the time, the station was built far outside the town. Between 1912 and 1927, interrupted by World War I, the tracks were renewed and new subways were constructed underneath the tracks. The old station building, which is depicted on glass no. 1990, was demolished in 1923 and was replaced by a new construction.