Felsenmeermuseum

Current exhibitions

About the museum

As early as the 1960s, the Bürger- und Heimatverein Hemer (local civic and heritage association) considered setting up its own local history museum, but it took around three decades before a suitable building and a sufficient collection were available. In 1989 the museum opened in the Villa Grah in the Sundwig district. It is named after the nearby Felsenmeer ("sea of rocks"), a geological site where iron ore was mined more than a thousand years ago.

The villa was built in 1902 for Peter Grah, who had joined the Sundwig ironworks as a young engineer and later headed the joint-stock company that grew out of it on his own. It was designed by the Iserlohn architect August Deucker; the listed building combines Art Nouveau with elements of the regional Heimatstil, and original tiles, stucco ceilings and brass fittings survive inside. Since 2020 the town of Hemer, as owner, has been renovating the house for around one million euros – with a new roof, fire protection, an accessible restroom and a planned elevator.

The permanent exhibition is spread over three floors: the first floor is devoted to mining, iron smelting, wire making, paper mills and present-day industry in Hemer, while the second floor covers geological history with caves and the Felsenmeer as well as prehistory and early history. The third floor deals with the town's history up to the Nazi era, with expellees, and with the Hemer personalities Friedrich Leopold Woeste, Hans Prinzhorn and Willibrord Benzler. The volunteer-run association complements this with special exhibitions, talks and guided tours in historical costume.

Highlights

• Reconstructed Frankish woman's grave from the 7th century
• Westig coin hoard from the period before the Thirty Years' War
• Excavated bloomery furnace from early iron smelting
• Water-powered models of a wire-drawing mill and a brass hammer
• Art Nouveau Villa Grah from 1902 with original interior features
• Costumed guided tours on museum Sundays

Permanent exhibitions

• Industriegeschichte – First floor covering mining in the Felsenmeer, medieval iron smelting, wire drawing, cooperage and the paper mill, as well as products of present-day Hemer companies.
• Erd- und Stadtgeschichte – Upper floors on the formation of caves and the Felsenmeer, on prehistory and early history, and on Hemer's town history, with the Frankish grave, the coin hoard and well-known personalities.

Founded

1989

Operated by

Bürger- und Heimatverein Hemer e. V.

Admission & discounts

Members of the Bürger- und Heimatverein get free admission; admission is free at some events.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom
• 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

Currently not accessible: even the first floor can only be reached via a flight of several steps. An elevator to all floors is under construction (foundation poured); an accessible restroom on the second floor has already been installed.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Stroller-friendly: not available

Interactive, age-appropriate tours for children (daycare centers and schools). For visits with children, the museum advises choosing only one topic per visit. Even the first floor can only be reached via steps; there is no elevator yet.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café

Museum cafeteria with waffles, cake, and coffee on museum Sundays. The yearbook "Der Schlüssel" is available at the museum.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties

Class reunions at the Villa Grah with a small sparkling wine reception and a museum tour for a per-person fee.

Plan your visit