Alexander Schnütgen had organised influential exhibitions of his collection while it was still private, and from the 1970s the museum (using extra exhibition spaces) organized a series of landmark exhibitions of medieval art: Rhein und Maas (1972, Mosan art) Monumenta Annonis – Köln und Siegburg.
Alexander Schnütgen havde organiseret betydningsfulde udstillinger af sin samling, mens den stadig var i privateje, og fra 1970'erne har museet arrangeret flere skelsættende udstillinger af middelalderlig kunst: Rhein und Maas (1972, Mosankunst) Monumenta Annonis – Köln und Siegburg.