LWL open-air museum in Hagen

It is one of the most beautiful museums in the region and not only because of its picturesque location on the southern edge of the Ruhr area. With its 62 half-timbered buildings, the LWL open-air museum in Hagen stands for a varied journey through 200 years of craftsmanship history. This story is not only told in words and pictures, but above all through action: in demonstration companies that find the best production conditions in the Mäckingerbachtal with wind, water and forest. Founded in 1960, the museum was one of the first in Germany to consciously specialize in traditional handicraft techniques and their history.

Technical achievements as works of art that are shown in the museum: Wilhelm Claas developed a corresponding concept as early as 1920. But it was to be another four decades before the Regional Association of Westphalia-Lippe (LWL) was to implement the Hagen native's ideas, which were revolutionary at the time. Today's LWL open-air museum was founded on July 22, 1960 as the "Westphalian Open-Air Museum of Technical Cultural Monuments - State Museum for the History of Technology and Crafts - Hagen"; three years later work began in the Mäckingerbach valley. The approximately 42-hectare open-air museum was officially opened in 1973. The goal: to preserve and present technical cultural monuments from around 200 years of craft history.

The Craft and Technology Competence Center documents the stories behind the objects. In an interdisciplinary exchange with scientific institutions and professional associations, the experts try to close research gaps in the history of handicrafts in Westphalia-Lippe. Their results flow into the museum's educational work, among other things. The library of the museum is also open to laypeople who are interested in the (regional) history of technology: As the anchor point of the route of industrial culture, the LWL open-air museum in Hagen presents the diversity of handicraft traditions from the end of the 18th century to the present day like no other in the region 1960s.

In the LWL open-air museum in Hagen, people bake, forge, print and brew, in short: history is not simply "consumed" here, but can be experienced up close. In addition, the museum offers an extensive educational program with workshops for all ages. Visitors have the opportunity to learn about working techniques that have often been almost forgotten and can try their hand at making paper, mowing scythes or casting metal. Regular events and acclaimed special exhibitions complete the varied offer of the museum in the Mäckingerbachtal.