Westfälisches Schulmuseum

About the museum

The roots of the Westfälisches Schulmuseum go back to 1910, when a collection of teaching aids for the continuing education of teachers was set up in Dortmund. From it arose one of the most extensive school history collections in Germany, which today comprises about 80,000 objects from the 15th century to the present – from slate tablets and writing implements through teaching aids to scientific instruments.

Since the winter of 1989/90 the museum has been housed in a listed school building in the Marten district, which was built in 1904/05 as a Protestant elementary school; the district library is also in the same building. The exhibition led through about 500 years of educational history, organized in eras from the German Empire through the Weimar Republic and National Socialism to the postwar period. Especially popular was the lesson in the historic classroom, in which school classes could experience a school day as it was a good hundred years ago.

At the end of 2024 the building closed for a comprehensive renovation, which the Dortmund city council set in motion in 2023. The building is being converted to be accessible, will receive among other things an elevator and a photovoltaic system, and the exhibition space is to grow significantly. The permanent exhibition is being refurnished in the process; a reopening is not planned before 2028.

Highlights

• About 80,000 objects on school history from the 15th century to today
• Historic classroom from the early 20th century
• Listed schoolhouse from 1904/05 in Dortmund-Marten
• Museum suitcase "Schulalltag vor (gut) hundert Jahren" (School Life a Good Hundred Years Ago) for school classes during the closure

Founded

1910

Operated by

Stadt Dortmund

Director

Michael Dückershoff

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission to Dortmund's municipal museums is free. Museum suitcase program for school classes: €104 per class.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• 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 previous building was not accessible. With the renovation, accessible entry, an elevator, a stair lift and wider doors are planned.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops: not available
• Kids’ birthday parties: not available

During the closure there are no family programs and no children's birthday parties on site. For school classes in grades 2 to 8, the program "Schulalltag vor (gut) hundert Jahren" comes to the school as a museum suitcase (90 minutes).

Getting there & parking

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

Amenities & dining

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

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit