When the Deutsche Reichstag was founded in 1876, the government looked for a new residence. It had been established from plans by Paul Wallot between 1884 and 1894. Being the setting of numerous disputes during the first German democracy, the Weimarer Republik, it experienced its most turbulent time between 1918 and 1933.

A fire, which severely damaged the building in 1933 was used by the Nazis as an excuse to withhold fundamental democratic rights laid down in the Weimar constitution. From that day onwards the building remained unused. During the last days of the war further damage was incurred during allied bombing raids. The remaining dome was blown up in 1954. It was inadequately rebuilt in the sixties. Being located next to the wall, it held the permanent exhibition "Fragen an die Deutsche Geschichte".

In 1984, 650,000 people came to the grounds of the Reichstag in order to watch André Heller`s firework display "Sturz durch Träume".

In 1990 Germany celebrated its reunification in the Reichstag. Since Berlin was restored as the capital, the building became the centre of attention again. In the summer of 1995, shortly before the reconstruction, the artist, Christo, wrapped the Reichstag with fabrics. It was concealed for a week and became the largest art event in Europe. Between 1995 and 1999 it was completely rebuilt from plans of the architect, Sir Norman Foster, at a cost of over 600 million Deutsch Marks. A central part is the new glass dome, which looks similar to the dome of the original building. Apart from the dome the building has a completely new interior.