Deutsches Drahtmuseum

About the museum

Since the Middle Ages, Altena has been a center of the German wire trade. At the suggestion of the Altena wire industrialist Paul Rump, the then district of Altena, with the support of the wire associations, founded the Deutsches Drahtmuseum in 1965 as one of the collections at Burg Altena. The roughly 110 square meters in the Kommandantenhaus of the castle soon proved too small for the subject.

The Märkischer Kreis, as legal successor, decided in 1989 to move the museum out. With the help of a newly founded friends' association in which many wire companies were involved, it moved in 1994 into the former Lyzeum (girls' school) at the access road to the castle, about 500 meters below the complex. The neutral rooms of the former school allowed a freer presentation than a disused factory.

As part of the project "Burg 2000", the exhibition was fundamentally redesigned and reopened on April 26, 1999, as a modern interactive exhibition. Under the motto "Vom Kettenhemd zum Supraleiter" (From chain mail to superconductor), it covers on about 630 square meters the technological, social, economic, and cultural history of wire, supplemented by a temporary exhibition room. Historic wire drawing machines, films, and numerous experiment stations make the subject vivid for families, school classes, and experts. Since April 2024, admission has been free.

Highlights

• Replica of a historic Schockenzug and the loud Polterwäsche in the forecourt
• Historic wire drawing machines from 1920 to 1952
• Experiment stations to try out
• Wire dress by Heike Wiggers
• World's smallest bicycle
• Gallery with wire art

Permanent exhibitions

• Vom Kettenhemd zum Supraleiter – Tour through eleven themed rooms on the production, working world, properties, and applications of wire, up to language and art, with historic machines and experiment stations.

Founded

1965

Operated by

Märkischer Kreis

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Free admission on a "pay what you want" basis – a donation box stands at the info desk in the entrance area. For special events, the respective event admission applies; booked tours cost €55 per group.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• 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 exhibition rooms are accessible and connected by elevator. There is a flight of stairs between the entrance on Fritz-Thomée-Straße and the museum entrance; a stair-climbing transporter for wheelchairs is available – please register in advance. Walkers (rollators) may be used. People with limited mobility can be dropped off directly in front of the entrance.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

Many experiment stations invite you to try things out, such as piloting an airplane, playing a harp, or tapping out SOS in Morse code. Children's tour "Alles aus Draht" for ages 8 to 12 with a touch game.

Getting there & parking

A 46, exit Iserlohn-Oestrich/Altena; in Altena toward Burg Altena. Fritz-Thomée-Straße is a one-way street. It is about 500 m or 10 minutes steeply uphill to Burg Altena.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

Museum shop with catalog and short guide (in eight languages). Backpacks, large bags, and umbrellas are locked up in the coat check.

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit