Kolonie-Museum Leverkusen
Volunteer-run living museum in a house of the Bayer workers' colony in Leverkusen-Wiesdorf, furnished in the style of the 1920s and 1930s.
About the museum
From 1895 the Bayer company had residential estates, known as colonies, built for the employees of its growing plant in Wiesdorf. The houses are now listed buildings and belong to the housing company Vivawest.
To keep the memory of life in these estates alive, volunteers spent around three years renovating a colony house on Nobelstraße and furnished it from cellar to attic in the style of the 1920s and 1930s. The museum opened in 2005 at the same time as the Landesgartenschau (state garden show); in the same year the friends' and supporters' circle was founded, which has run the house ever since. Almost all the furniture and household items were donated by Leverkusen families, often together with their stories.
In the neighboring house the museum shows changing exhibitions on local history and art. Since 2015 it has been an extracurricular learning venue, and in 2020 it received the Liedtke-Wichmann Prize of the Opladen history society. The Vivawest Stiftung supports its operation.
Highlights
- Fully furnished colony house of the 1920s and 1930s
- Laundry room and everyday objects from donations
- Tours with stories from the Bayer colonies
- Geocaching tour around the museum
Permanent exhibitions
- Wohnen in der Kolonie – A historic workers' house, furnished from cellar to attic with original furniture and household items of the 1920s and 1930s.
- Founded
- 2005
- Operated by
- Freundes- und Förderkreis des Kolonie-Museums Leverkusen e.V.
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Adults | free |
|---|
Free admission.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
Children discover how people lived without television, gas heating and smartphones; school classes are welcome as an extracurricular learning venue. A geocaching tour leads around the museum.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Erholungshaus
Bus lines 203, 208, 210, 211 and 233 to the Erholungshaus stop directly in front of the museum; about a 10-minute walk from Leverkusen Mitte station.
By car
Paid parking
Paid spaces directly opposite in the Erholungshaus parking lot as well as on Nobelstraße and Dhünnstraße.
The museum is located opposite the Bayer Erholungshaus.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
The museum is booked for family gatherings, milestone birthdays and class reunions; inquiries via the contact form.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Small groups, individuals and families are guided through the rooms during opening hours; larger groups please register in advance. |
