Archaeological Museum of Westphalia-Lippe

The first collection of archaeological finds in Westphalia was opened for review in 1836 in Munster . In 1908 it was transferred to the local museum of local lore. In 1930, the archaeological collection was exhibited in a separate room and in 1934 was named the “Land Museum of Primitive and Ancient History” ( Landesmuseum für Vor- und Frühgeschichte ). During World War II, the museum building was destroyed by the bombings of 1943 and 1945. In 1963-1970, the construction of a new museum. In 1980, it was named the Westphalian Archaeological Museum. In 2001, by decision of the Land Society of Westfalia-Lippe , the museum in Münster was closed. Herne is building new premises for it, which in March 2003 were open to the public. In 2007, the museum was renamed again - “LWL-Museum für Archäologie. Westfälisches Landesmuseum ".

The new building in Herne, where the Westphalian Archaeological Museum is now located, goes underground, since most of the exhibition premises are located there, the total area of ​​which is 6,800 m². Both main exhibition halls are underground. Under the ground is also a museum cinema. Above them stands a cuboidal entrance portal with adjoining halls. This building in 2003 was marked by the Union of German Architects as one of the best buildings of North Rhine-Westphalia ( Auszeichnung guter Bauten 2003 ). It is also available for the disabled.

The main topic covered by the collection of exhibits of the museum is the 250 thousandth history of human life in Westphalia. The exposition, which contains more than 10 thousand items of storage, has restored to the smallest details the sites of large archaeological finds in the region, starting with excavations at places of human settlements during the last Ice Age. Visitors see the ancient buildings, wells, graves, as well as the entire volume of archaeological research that accompanied the discovery and study of the finds. For explanations, you can watch movies about the work of scientists. visit also museum research laboratories.

In addition to the permanent exhibition, the museum also hosts temporary exhibitions, usually related to issues of history and culture.

Westphalian Archaeological Museum is located at:

• LWL-Museum für Archäologie - Westfälisches Landesmuseum
• Europaplatz 1,
• 44623 Herne

• Portal of the Archaeological Museum of Westphalia-Lippe