Stadtmuseum Iserlohn

Description

The Iserlohn City Museum, housed in one of the city´s most beautiful Baroque buildings, features objects in its permanent exhibition showcasing 800 years of city history. Rotating special exhibitions on the cultural history of the city and region, along with a wide range of educational offerings, make the museum a cultural meeting point and discussion venue for urban history.

With the granting of city rights in the 13th century, the minting of coins began, along with the production of wire and chainmail. The wire, needle, and brass industry that developed from this shaped Iserlohn and the lives of its residents—both in factory and home work. In the burgeoning city, social life was not neglected: in the 19th century, numerous clubs were founded in the city and new political ideas were discussed in the pubs. In 1849, Prussian troops quelled an uprising by the citizens of Iserlohn, which began with the storming of the armory—today´s city museum. The city also bears the marks of Nazi terror and World War II. The nearby Altstadt air raid shelter, built in 1943, is managed by the museum and can be visited as part of a guided tour.

The basement is currently closed for a comprehensive renovation.

The Iserlohn City Museum is regarded as one of the outstanding sites of industrial culture in Westphalia (WasserEisenLand). Since summer 2017, it has served as an anchor museum for the “Prussia in Westphalia” network. As of 2022, the Iserlohn City Museum is part of the nationwide "Sites of Democracy History."