The Archaeological Museum of Westphalia-Lippe inHerne interactively covers the history of the land of Westphalia. It is one ofthe largest museums in the region, which annually attracts over a millionvisitors. The museum was founded in as early as 1825. It was originally calledthe Museum of Patriotic Antiquities and was located in Münster. In the 1990s itwas decided to move the museum and in 2003 it opened in Herne. The building designhas won architectural awards.
Part of the premises of theArchaeological Museum of Westphalia-Lippe is located under the ground, thanksto which visitors feel like explorers. Burials of the Bronze Age, Roman wells,Neanderthals caves, a neighbourhood of the medieval city were recreated in themuseum. It contains more than 10,000 artifacts ranging from mammoth bones to WWIIbomb fragments, from primitive tools of the trade to the industrialachievements of the Ruhr area.