Built in 1864 as a rehearsal and performance venue for the Stuttgart Liederkranz choir, the 'Old Liederhalle' was extended and converted in 1910. In the night of 8 October 1943, however, it was destroyed by fire bombers during a heavy air attack on Stuttgart. Both the building and valuable music scores and musical instruments were irretrievably lost. In 1956 the 'New Liederhalle' was rebuilt in the same place and has become the centre of cultural and social life in the city.