Baedekerhaus

The Baedekerhaus is a concrete office building in Essen now serving as the House of History of North Rhine-Westphalia. Its structure displays clean lines and functional design typical of early industrial architecture.

Peter Behrens designed the building in 1910 as an administrative center for the Mannesmann factory during a period of industrial growth. After World War II, the British Military Government used it for administration.

The building takes its name from a famous travel guide publisher and recalls Essen's role as an industrial center. Today, visitors experience the site as a place to learn about regional heritage through its spaces.

The building is accessible as a museum and exhibition space offering insights into regional history. Visitors should allow time to explore both the exhibitions and the structure itself.

During the Ruhr occupation following World War I, the building fell under French control. This period of foreign occupation shaped the place and remains part of its layered past.