The Museum
1921/22
The Oscar Huber was constructed at the Berninghaus shipyard
1927
Duisburg-Ruhrort hosted the first Lower Rhine Shipping Exhibition in the iconic Thousand Window House.
1927
1966
The "Association for the Preservation of the Paddle Tugboat Oscar Huber" was established to convert and operate the last remaining paddle steamer on the Rhine, the Oscar Huber (built in 1921/22), as a passenger vessel.
1971
The city council of Duisburg passed a resolution to convert the "Oscar Huber" into a museum ship.
1971
1974
A significant milestone in the region’s maritime history was marked by the opening of the first shipping museum aboard the "Oscar Huber" in Duisburg-Ruhrort.
1977
The city council passed a resolution to establish a German inland shipping museum and founded the "Association for the Promotion of the German Inland Shipping Museum Duisburg-Ruhrort e.V." to support its development.
1977
1979
The German Inland Shipping Museum Duisburg-Ruhrort opened its doors in the historic Ruhrort town hall.
1984
The museum fleet was expanded to include the 1882 bucket chain steam dredger "Minden".
1984
1996
The museum located on Dammstraße will be shutting down.
1997
Relocation to the new premises
1997
1998
Reopening of the German Inland Shipping Museum Duisburg-Ruhrort in the historic Ruhrort bathhouse
2012
The historic crane ship "Fendel 147", a neighbor of the "Oscar Huber" and "Minden", is undergoing a major refurbishment.
2012
2013
The 1897 harbor steam crane, situated near the museum ships at Gustav-Sander-Platz, is undergoing restoration.
The Building
1908-1910
The Ruhrort bathhouse, a prime example of Art Nouveau and late historicism architecture, was constructed.
1910
The bathhouse opened its doors
1910
1942-1945
Despite the war, there was relatively little damage to the buildings.
1946
The bathhouse reopened its doors, allowing men and women to swim together for the first time.
1946
1953-1958
The entrance area and swimming pool are undergoing a 1950s-style renovation, featuring intermediate ceilings, wall and floor mosaics, and gallery railings.
1959-1962
repair work, renovation work, refurbishment
1959-1962
1986
Closure of the indoor swimming pool
1988
The building complex is now a protected historic site.
1988
1991
The public baths makeover: An international contest and its outcome – a project of the IBA Emscher Park – Designed by "architekturfabrik aachen" (afa) with artist Ron Bernstein (USA)
1993
Renovation works to begin: The existing structure will be retained and sensitively remodeled for museum use.
1993
1998
New opening of the German Inland Shipping Museum Duisburg-Ruhrort in the old Ruhrort public baths
2004
Repurposing of the historic boiler house as a museum restaurant
2004