Experience historic German trades hands-on in Hagen
Did you know that brush making has historically been a trade for the blind? At Hagen's outdoor museum, visitors can go back in time, forge hammers on anvils, eat traditionally baked bread and learn about German history.
Hammers and anvils
Unsuspecting bystanders will jump when the hammer loudly hits the anvil. The hammer factory is one of 15 metal workshops at the outdoor museum in Hagen. It is run by a water plant, just like in 1792 when it was founded. After its closure in 1969, it was taken over by the museum and was authentically reconstructed.
Visiting the scythe man
Ever since the Iron Age, farmers have been using scythes to harvest grain and cut straw. During the Middle Ages, scythe men were seen as an allegory for death. The connection between scythe-carrying land workers and death can already been found in the Bible. Fortunately, the scythe man at the outdoor museum in Hagen doesn't herald disaster. On the contrary, he's popular with the visitors.
Get your hands dirty
Most visitor groups are made up of school classes and families. The outdoor museum specializes in hands-on activities that give visitors the chance to experience what life was like hundreds of years ago - like baking bread or constructing ovens. Once a month, there are special events for horse carriage, vintage car or model airplane enthusiasts. In December, a Christmas market is held.
Idyllic surroundings
According to surveys, the particular location of the outdoor museum in the southeastern part of the Ruhr region attracts visitors. Surrounded by forests and hills, the region serves as a recreational area for busy city dwellers trying to escape stress, traffic noise and air pollution.
A hub for the metal industry
During the 18th century, the nearby city of Iserlohn in the Sauerland region became one of the leading industrial cities of Prussia, concentrating mainly on the production of needles and wire, as well as items made of bronze and brass. The outdoor museum documents these developments in its various workshops.
The beauty of brass
A brass manufacturing machine made by the company Otto E. Metzler is on show at the museum. Constructed in the 19th century, it was re-erected in Hagen. After the visitors have recovered from the ear-deafening noises produced by this machine, they can admire the results. Particularly popular in the past were brass tobacco boxes imprinted with historic scenes.
A quick visit to the museum store
Up until the 1950s, people used to buy everything they needed at a small village store. Then supermarkets started to take over. But time has stood still in the Hagen Museum, where you can still purchase everyday products in a tiny store - like freshly baked bread or handmade brooms.