In Conrad Schick’s Footsteps: Curiosity, Craft and 19th-Century Jerusalem

Explore 19th-century Jerusalem through the life and work of Conrad Schick: a self-taught architect, researcher and archaeologist whose curiosity and practical skills helped shape the city and deepen our understanding of its past.

We begin on HaNevi’im Street, also known as the Street of the Prophets, where religion, science, architecture and European initiatives came together in the 19th century. Following key chapters in Schick’s life, we discover how he combined craftsmanship with close observation to study Jerusalem’s buildings, sacred sites and layers of history.

We then continue into the Old City to explore his architectural and research work and see his celebrated models, including a model of the Temple Mount. These detailed constructions helped scholars and visitors understand spaces that few could access. They also reveal how Schick used model-making as a tool for research, documentation and explanation.

Along the way, we explore the role of Protestant communities in 19th-century Jerusalem, from religious and educational institutions to scientific research. We also learn about the Palestine Exploration Fund (PEF) and its contribution to mapping, documenting antiquities and studying the region’s archaeology and history.

Through Schick’s story, we consider the connections between faith and science, craftsmanship and scholarship, and an ancient city and the modern researchers seeking to understand it.

Highlights:

• HaNevi’im Street and Jerusalem’s changing character in the 19th century
• Schick’s architectural and archaeological work in the Old City
• His detailed models, including a model of the Temple Mount
• Protestant institutions and their influence on the city
• The Palestine Exploration Fund and the study of Jerusalem and the region

About your guide:
Sela Schein is a licensed Israeli tour guide with over 20 years of experience. Based in the Galilee, she specializes in family walks, wild food foraging, outdoor cooking and learning through experiences on the trail.

She graduated with honors from Bezalel’s Jewelry and Fashion Department and now teaches contemporary jewelry at Tel Hai University. A practicing artist who exhibits in Israel and abroad, she also works in metalwork and lighting design, drawing inspiration from the landscape around her.