Crooked dog, Gantry crane architectural monument in Herne, Germany.
The Crooked Dog is a gantry crane in Herne with a metal frame made of a horizontal beam and vertical supports. The structure retains its distinctive tilt, a feature that developed during its years of industrial use.
This crane was built during the height of the Ruhr region's industrial boom and spent decades moving heavy loads for factories. After it stopped working, the structure received protection as a heritage monument to preserve its industrial significance.
The name "Crooked Dog" comes from the structure's distinctive tilt that visitors notice immediately upon arrival. This visual quirk makes the monument a memorable reminder of how industrial equipment evolved and changed over time.
The site is located in northern Herne and is easily reached on foot from the city center or by local bus. You can view the monument from outside at any time since it stands in a public space.
The crane's tilt was not by design but developed over the years under the weight of heavy materials. This unintended feature makes it an unusual testimony to the physical stress that industrial machines endured.
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