A tour through historic workshops, shops and life stories from the Wesermarsch.
Our permanent exhibition connects historic craftsmanship and village life across several buildings into a vivid picture of past centuries. Step inside and discover the highlights of our collection on your journey through our house.
The historic entrance door of our main building from 1773 has returned. After extensive restoration and careful conservation, the precious original gleams in new splendour. It is one of the most significant pieces in our collection and greets you right at the beginning of the tour.
Step into the world of fine fragrances and historic healing arts. The faithful furnishings come from the pharmacy of the Laer family, who were based for many years in the building across from our museum. Original dispensary jars, old scales and mortars make the atmosphere of a historic pharmacy tangible.
Take a look at medical care in past days in the Wesermarsch. Historic dentist chairs, delicate surgical instruments and the equipment of the country doctor from the 19th and 20th centuries tell of a time when healthcare looked very different.
From loose sugar to rough bar soap: our shop shows regional retail trade before the era of modern supermarkets. The historic shelves are filled from floor to ceiling with original packaging, scales and nostalgic advertising signs.
Welcome to the village salon! In the past, the rural barber was not only responsible for cutting hair, but often also served as a bath-house keeper and tooth-puller. Historic hair dryers and fine shaving tools await you.
Leave the main building and discover in our outdoor area a fully equipped, fully operational historic smithy. From the massive anvil to the bellows: on our action days, the iron is heated again here and the craft is demonstrated live.
From the sturdy cartwheel to the wooden cart: the wheelwright was indispensable for rural mobility. The specialised tools for the precise working of wood and iron show you what this demanding craft required.
Discover the historic aesthetics of interior design. Elaborate wall paintings, delicate stencil techniques and the specific tools of the painting and decorating trade tell of the design trends of past eras in Ovelgönne and the Wesermarsch.
The traditional art of thatching with reed still shapes the landscape of the Wesermarsch today. We show you the specific tools, the ingenious techniques and the natural materials of this ancient and weather-resistant craft.
From the cobbler's workshop to fine weaving: old spinning wheels, leather tools and finished products show you how laboriously and time-consumingly clothing and everyday objects were once made by hand.
Our bakehouse shows the hard work of the baker before the era of large machines. From the heavy flour sack to the wooden oven peel and the old dough kneaders, everything is preserved in authentic detail and gives you a genuine insight into the craft.
Home slaughtering and professional meat processing were central to rural self-sufficiency. We display historic sausage fillers, butcher's knives and the equipment of a classic slaughterhouse from decades gone by.
From cooking over an open fire to the time-consuming care of laundry: massive appliances, cast-iron pots and coarse textiles illustrate the hard daily working life in the historic household long before industrialisation.
The "Black Gold" of the moors. Old spades, wooden carts and fascinating stories about peat extraction show you how laborious and at the same time indispensable this work was for survival and heating in the region.
Meet the people who left a lasting mark on Ovelgönne. The social engagement of the Zedelius sisters, the artistic work of Wolfgang Heinbach and the silent remains of the historic prison await you.
Testimonies of the highest craftsmanship and discipline. Our gallery presents elaborately designed historic master craftsman certificates and handcrafted graduation pieces from various trades in the region.
The memory of the museum. Protected documents, old photographs and writings are stored here, of inestimable value for academic research and local genealogy in the Wesermarsch.
This was just a glimpse of our extensive tour. Come and visit, breathe in the atmosphere of our house and discover many more rooms and stories in Ovelgönne.
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