LWL-Freilichtmuseum Hagen

Current exhibitions

About the museum

The idea of a museum for technical heritage goes back to Wilhelm Claas from Hagen, who in the 1920s devised a concept to preserve workshops and machines like works of art. The Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe (LWL) took up the idea in 1960 and founded the museum; a support group of citizens and companies backed the project from as early as 1961.

From 1963, buildings from all over Westphalia were dismantled and re-erected in the previously almost undeveloped valley of the Mäckinger Bach stream in southern Hagen. The open-air museum opened to the public in spring 1973. Today the grounds cover around 42 hectares and include some 60 workshops, mills, hammer mills and factories from the late 18th century to the 1960s.

Its hands-on approach is what sets it apart: in many of the works, craftspeople operate historic machinery – they forge, make paper by hand, bake bread, roast coffee and brew beer. Water power from the stream drives hammers and mills, illustrating why water, wind and forest were crucial to the trades of the Märkisches Sauerland region.

The tour is complemented by permanent exhibitions such as the Deutsches Schmiedemuseum (German Blacksmithing Museum) and the Deutsches Kaltwalzmuseum (German Cold Rolling Museum), as well as special exhibitions that change annually. Today the museum bears the additional name Westfälisches Landesmuseum für Handwerk und Technik (Westphalian State Museum of Crafts and Technology) and is part of the LWL.

Highlights

• Demonstration workshops with forges, hammer mills, paper mill, print shop and ropewalk
• Brewery, wood-fired bakery, coffee roastery and smokehouse with products for sale
• Deutsches Schmiedemuseum with treasure chamber and Damascus steel
• Deutsches Kaltwalzmuseum at the head of the valley
• Museum railway (included in admission)
• Water-powered mills and hammers in the Mäckingerbach valley

Permanent exhibitions

• Deutsches Schmiedemuseum – Tour from iron production through various blacksmithing trades to a treasure chamber with historic smithing work and Damascus steel.
• Deutsches Kaltwalzmuseum – Presents the cold rolling technology rooted in the region and its products, found in everyday life from bicycles to household appliances.
• Druck und Papier – Cardboard mill, paper mill and print shop explain the production and history of paper and cardboard in the Märkisches Sauerland.

Founded

1960

Operated by

Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe (LWL)

Director

Bärbel Maul

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Free admission days 2026: May 9, July 5, August 1 and October 31

A ride on the museum railway is included in admission. Leashed dogs free (no access to buildings except restaurants; guide dogs allowed everywhere). Christmas market with separate admission.

Accessibility

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

Long, narrow valley with slopes and some cobblestones; a companion is needed on some inclines. Around 18 buildings are accessible at ground level or can be viewed from outside, plus additional low-barrier paths. Loaner wheelchairs at the ticket desk, overview map of accessibility. Tactile tours for blind and visually impaired people (max. 10 people), some Sunday tours with sign language interpretation, FM receivers with neck loops for the Sunday tour. Brochure and website in Easy Language (Leichte Sprache), German Sign Language (DGS) videos.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area
• Kids’ birthday parties

On weekends, hands-on activities on changing crafts (e.g., papermaking, rope twisting); on Sundays, tours for children aged 8 and up; rally sheet for the special exhibition at the ticket desk. Water playground near the entrance, baby changing rooms in every area of the museum. Children's birthday parties for ages 6–12 (approx. 2 hours).

Getting there & parking

GPS address: Selbecker Straße 200, 58091 Hagen.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Restaurant "Museumsterrassen" (accessible), "Braustube", café in the "Gasthof zur Post" (Sundays), kiosk at the playground, and snack grill with limited hours; a change of operators has been announced for the 2027 season. Museum shop at the entrance, grocery store with butcher, bakery. Picnic areas.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties

Celebrations in the "Museumsterrassen" restaurant, also outside opening hours, via the museum catering; commercial photo and film shoots on request.

Plan your visit