Odense Ages. After a period of decline, large-scale plans for development were made during the 18th century, which led to the rebuilding of Odense Palace and the building of a canal to the Port of Odense, facilitating trade. In 1865, one of the largest railway terminals in Denmark was built, further increasing the population and commerce, and by 1900, Odense had reached a population of 35,000. Odense's Odinstårnet was one of the tallest towers in Europe when built in 1935 but was destroyed by the Nazis during World War II. The University of Southern Denmark was established in 1966. In the
Odense City Museums new museums opened (and closed), got renamed and moved around. Starting in 1997, "Odense City Museums" has been run as one museum with the formerly independent museums around the city as departments. Odense City Museums Odense City Museums () is a department in "City and Culture administration" (), which again is a department in Odense municipality administration. It runs and administers all museums in Odense municipality. The first Museum in Odense opened in 1860 under the name "Nordisk Museum" located in Odense Palace. During 1885 it moved to a newly erected building, a few hundred meters from "Odense Palace" –