There was the classic text and object/trinket display accompanied by a continuous video of describing the times, but the use of large impressive and interactive objects broke the barrier. At the beginning you are allowed to touch a piece of the wall and then after touching it you have to physically walk around seven full sections of the wall. You feel as though you are walking along the wall in Western Germany and then when you “cross” over it through a passageway you enter into East Germany. The beautiful graffiti is replaced with a stark untouched wall rising to wall in the exhibit. You are then faced with the guard tower in the center that looms over the exhibit, watching you where-ever you go.
When you enter the guard tower you are assaulted with sounds of gun shots, shouting, helicopters, fully attacking the senses. The guard tower emanates an aura of creepiness due to the starkness of it and the soundtrack only increases it. The inside of the tower had also been stripped of everything and lacked any real lighting. I entered the exhibit excited to see the artifacts and interact with them, but instead of allowing me to continue my excitement and intrigue the exhibit seemed to try and set my viewing experience into one of horror of the Berlin Wall.