Aufzugmuseum

About the museum

The Aufzugmuseum (Elevator Museum) is the company collection of the Lochbühler family from Seckenheim. Their business started in 1873 as a farrier's and wagon smithy, developed into a metalworking and mechanical workshop in the early 20th century and delivered its first own elevator in 1925; elevator construction later became the company's core business.

From 1986 the family collected historic drives, controls, car components and documents, which were initially stored in a basement room. Today the exhibition is housed in the Seckenheim water tower, built in 1911: an octagonal tamped-concrete structure almost 38 meters tall with a copper dome. After the district was connected to Mannheim's water network, the tower lost its function; the Lochbühler company bought it in 1978, saving it from demolition. During the first conversion, completed in 1989, it was given a glass exterior elevator.

In 2002 the collection moved to the tower's ground floor. Following a comprehensive restoration from 2010 to 2012, supported by the Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz (German Foundation for Monument Protection) and the state, the exhibition has been spread across four levels of the tower shaft since June 2012. The upper floors beneath the dome are used for events and conferences; the dome features an artificial starry sky. In 2014 the family received the Mannheim Monument Preservation Prize for the restoration.

The roughly 700 objects range from the late 19th century to the present; many pieces still work, including a paternoster from the 1920s. There are no regular museum hours – the museum opens for pre-booked group tours and on special occasions such as the Tag des offenen Denkmals (Heritage Open Day).

Highlights

• Working paternoster elevator from 1924
• Around 700 objects on the history of elevator construction across four levels
• Winding drum with wooden gear from 1878 and an Art Nouveau elevator car
• Listed water tower from 1911 with a glass exterior elevator
• Artificial starry sky in the tower dome

Founded

1986

Operated by

Lochbühler Aufzüge GmbH (Familie Lochbühler)

Admission & discounts

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The tower has a glass exterior elevator to the upper floors; no information has been published on the accessibility of the exhibition levels.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Events & venue rental

The two upper tower floors beneath the dome are used for corporate events and conferences; no public rental offer is listed.

Plan your visit