Visit Offenbach’s German Leather Museum to see one of the largest museums of its type in the entire world. Throughout your visit, you’ll learn all about leather and Offenbach’s rich history in leatherwork. The building is actually three museums in one, with three separate sections: the German Shoe Museum, the Museum for Applied Art and the Ethnological Museum.
The Leather Museum first opened in 1917 and is appropriately situated in Offenbach. Offenbach’s history has been heavily shaped by the leather industry, especially in the 19th century. Many local residents were shoemakers, tanners and luxury product makers. Most small factories closed down in the 1960s, leaving the Leather Museum as one of the few places where the art of leatherworking has been preserved. Visit today and see how the museum has been revived by its 2011 refurbishment.
Plan a visit to the Shoe Museum to see how footwear has changed over the centuries. Shoes from around the world line the glass cases and give you insight into how shoemakers and leatherworkers design clothing to be both fashionable and sturdy. See a model of a pair of shoes worn by a 5,000-year-old mummy, as well as Native American moccasins and leather cowboy boots.
Stroll around the Ethnological Collection to see artifacts from most of the major continents, including America, Africa and Asia. A collection of shadow-puppet figures will impress children and adults alike.
The final museum, the Collection of Applied Art, showcases some of Europe’s greatest works of leather design. Artifacts range all the way from the Middle Ages to the present day. See cabinets and caskets from the Renaissance, leather wall hangings and a leather coat used in World War II.
Walk to the German Leather Museum from almost anywhere in Offenbach. It is situated right in the heart of the cultural center. Those who drive will find parking in the city center next to the Cinemaxx. Entrance is to the museum is free.It is open every day except for Mondays. From the museum, it’s easy to move on to a stroll along the Main, the river that cuts through Offenbach.
