during the second world war in 1941/42, the exhibition was relocated to underground production facilities around jena. the optical museum was preserved from the soviet occupation's dismantling programme 1946. the first permanent exhibition was launched 1965 in the griesbach garden house. in 1976/77, the exhibition was returned to the building at no. 12 carl-zeiss-platz. on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the death of carl zeiss in december 1988, the historical zeiss-workshop (circa 1860) was opened as part of the optical museum in the neighboured volkshaus.