LWL-Industriemuseum, Industrial heritage museum in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
The LWL-Industriemuseum spreads across eight locations in the Westphalia-Lippe region and shows how industry and crafts shaped this area over centuries. Each site holds machines, tools, and objects that document workers' daily lives and how production methods evolved.
The museum was founded in 1979 with the idea of saving former industrial areas and making them accessible to the public. Over time, more historic factory grounds and mining sites were transformed into museum spaces to preserve the region's industrial and social history.
The names of individual sites reflect their original purposes—Zeche Zollern was a coal mine, Henrichshütte a steel mill. Walking through each location, you sense the connection to the trades and workers who shaped the region.
The eight sites are spread across the region, so it helps to plan which ones you want to visit. Many locations offer guided tours and have different opening hours, so checking ahead is worthwhile.
One of the most remarkable objects is the Henrichenburg Shiplift from 1899, a large hoisting device on the Dortmund-Ems Canal that still works today. This structure is a rare example of industrial equipment that continues to serve its original purpose.
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