Detailed description
A vibrant memorial site for the ideas and work of Friedrich Wilhelm Raiffeisen, the founder of the cooperative movement. Embedded as a GeoPoint in the GEOPARK Westerwald‑Lahn‑Taunus, the museum impressively recounts the origins of cooperative self-help in rural areas. Those who enjoy hiking can combine their visit with the Wäller Tour Raiffeisen's Sunday Walk.
Raiffeisen, born in 1818 in the Westerwald, dedicated his life to empowering rural communities to take control of their economic interests – through savings and loan associations, relief funds, and purchasing cooperatives. The museum vividly illustrates this pioneering work: In historical rooms, original furnishings, and artifacts from the 19th century, one can observe how these cooperative institutions were established – often in village schools or small administrative offices.
The tour begins in the old administrative and assembly building with its typical architecture, which embodies the cooperative idea: simple, functional, and communal. Visitors encounter historical cash books, early bank posters, loan registers, and old official equipment – all lovingly preserved and explained. Special exhibition rooms are dedicated to the themes of “Rural Need” and “Solidarity Self-Help,” revealing the social and economic background.
A focus is placed on achievements such as the establishment of credit systems without interest surcharges, the idea of reserves for crisis situations, self-administration by members, and cooperative loyalty. Original examples show how village residents organized supplies, loans, or purchasing communities on their own to collectively mitigate life risks.
Regular events, lectures, and participatory activities are offered for visitors – including historical craft demonstrations, thematic holiday programs for children, and seasonal exhibitions. Cooperative experts, farmers, and school classes also find exciting insights into the development or application of cooperative principles from then to today.
The German Raiffeisen Museum is thus more than just a classic museum – it is a place of inspiration that illustrates the root system of cooperative ideas and makes it comprehensible why they continue to resonate worldwide today. It invites visitors to explore the connection between history, community, and economic action and to reflect on it themselves. A visit is worthwhile for everyone who wants to understand how local heroes of everyday life became global movements.
Brief description
Cooperative pioneering work in the heart of the Westerwald
Contact and directions
Scheidter Straße 11 (im KulturHaus)
57577 Hamm (Sieg)