Deutsches Drahtmuseum, Wire manufacturing museum in Altena, Germany
The Deutsches Drahtmuseum displays the history and techniques of wire making through original machinery, tools, and products spanning from medieval times to modern manufacturing. The exhibitions show different production methods and how wire applications have evolved across industries.
The museum was founded in 1965 when the region wanted to document its importance as a wire manufacturing center. It started in Altena Castle and later moved to a dedicated building to accommodate the growing collections.
The museum's name directly reflects the region's long tradition of wire making that shaped daily work and community identity. Visitors can see how this craft became central to local life and economic development.
The museum is at Fritz-Thomée-Straße 12, and its ticket also covers nearby Altena Castle and the museums housed there. The permanent exhibition covers 630 m², with a further 120 m² room for temporary wire exhibitions. The building is wheelchair accessible.
The ticket to the Deutsches Drahtmuseum also admits visitors to nearby Altena Castle and its museums, so one purchase covers both sites. The wire museum opened in 1965 in the commandant's house of that castle, on the initiative of industrialist Paul Rump (1907–1986), before moving to its own building in 1994.
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