Geschichtsmuseum Lüdenscheid, Historical museum in Lüdenscheid, Germany

The Geschichtsmuseum Lüdenscheid occupies the former Amtshaus of the Amt Lüdenscheid, converted for the museum and joined to a neighbouring villa by a transparent new building. It opened at this site south of the town centre in 1988. The permanent displays cover the town and regional history, from a small railway train of the Kreis Altenaer Eisenbahn AG to a steam generator, zeppelin models and firefighting equipment.

The museum opened in 1988 after being relocated from its earlier location at Villa Liebigstrasse, where it had operated for several decades. The move to its current site allowed for better display of the growing collection and expanded educational opportunities for the city.

The button collection runs from the Bronze Age to the present and recalls Lüdenscheid's 19th-century nickname, "Button Town". Temporary shows have covered local subjects such as immigration to the town and the Märkischer Kreis, and the 2010–2011 exhibition on HARIBO's gold bear.

The museum spans multiple levels across the connected buildings, so visitors should plan time to explore and expect stairs throughout. A guide at the entrance helps visitors understand the different exhibition areas.

The historic meeting hall of the former Amt Lüdenscheid, the seat of the Amt Lüdenscheid administration with the community of Lüdenscheid-Land, keeps its Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) furnishings. Look for the room's original fittings rather than later additions; it is the one space in the museum where the building's administrative past is still visible.