Finower Wasserturm

About the museum

The Hirsch Kupfer- und Messingwerke AG had the tower built in 1917/18 to plans by the Berlin architect Paul Mebes in order to supply its works and the workers' housing estate with water. The 48.60-meter-high structure of yellow clinker is considered an early example of brick expressionism with Gothic-looking pointed arches and buttresses. Its tank held 200 cubic meters, part of which was always kept ready as firefighting water.

The tower, initially named after Hindenburg, went into operation in 1920; since 1949 it has been called the Finower Wasserturm. In 1945 a Wehrmacht demolition expert is said to have refused the order to blow it up. From 1964 the tower served only as a reserve, and after frost damage in the winter of 1973/74 it was permanently decommissioned.

In 2003 the association Förderverein Finower Wasserturm und sein Umfeld was founded, which renovated the tower in several stages until 2011 – including a new observation walkway, entrance building as well as an elevator and stair lift, also financed through window sponsorships. In 2009 an exhibition on the roughly 300-year history of the brass works opened in the former water tank, in 2015 a show on the development of Finow was added; since 2016 the tower has been styled a regional museum. The association also offers tours of the listed brass works settlement with its copper houses.

Highlights

• Observation walkway at a height of 44 meters
• Early brick expressionist structure by Paul Mebes
• Exhibition on the history of the Finow brass works
• Elevator to the exhibition levels
• Tours of the brass works settlement with copper houses

Permanent exhibitions

• Messingwerk – Ein Dokument der Arbeit – Multimedia exhibition in the former water tank on around 300 years of history of the Finow brass works and the Hirsch Kupfer- und Messingwerke.
• Finow – Gründung und Entwicklung – Presentation of how the town of Finow, which today belongs to Eberswalde, emerged from several municipalities.

Founded

2009

Operated by

Förderverein Finower Wasserturm und sein Umfeld e. V.

Admission & discounts

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• 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

Passenger elevator and stair lift up to the third floor (former water tank) with the exhibitions; a further 40 spiral steel steps lead to the observation walkway. Two accessible parking spaces about 20 m from the entrance, level paths.

Kids & families

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

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Brochures and postcards from the friends' association are available in the tower.

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit