History
The Dietzhölztal region boasts a 2,500-year-old tradition of iron smelting, and it eventually developed into an industrial location. Large-boiler production began here in 1908, by the companies that would evolve to become Buderus and Omnical.
The pre-industrial and industrial history of the Dietzhölztal region is presented in a separate hall. It looks back, and forward, in time on its 180 square-metre site and, in cooperation with the Neuhütte Dietzhölztal e.V history workshop, the admission is free.
Museum building
The Nationales Automuseum took over the complex in 2015, and began renovations that were architecturally sympathetic to the historical integrity and substance of the site.
The most important aspects of the original buildings were carefully preserved, including the hall with the museum's pre-war vehicles, and the cinema area was enhanced with historical facades.
The museum's entrance building was connected to the historical workshops, adding a striking red foyer, complete with an exhibition cube, to create a clear visible landmark.
Similarly, the new exhibition hall at the main entrance to the museum, and the special exhibition area on the first floor, proudly maintain their connections to the historical workshops.
Where Omnical GmbH once produced its large-boiler systems in a huge industrial hall, there is now an enormous, steep curve, inspired by a banked corner on a racetrack, where you can find competition cars of all eras. The Nationales Automuseum even immortalises this steep curve in its logo.
Behind the centrepiece curved section, an automatic parking-garage system shows more than 30 vehicles in a multi-storey display box.