The building served as a public swimming pool facility until it was converted into a museum in 1974.
The museum features the paddle steamer 'Minden', which is the last surviving paddle-driven steamship in Germany.
The 'Oscar Huber' vessel on-site is a diesel-powered motor tanker that was operational until the 1960s.
The museum's site in Ruhrort sits at the confluence of the Rhine and Ruhr rivers, the heart of Europe's largest inland port network.
Original tiled walls and Art Nouveau architectural details from the 1910 swimming pool are preserved inside the main exhibition hall.
The German Inland Waterways Museum is housed in a restored Art Nouveau municipal bathhouse located in the Ruhrort district of Duisburg. The museum focuses on the history of inland navigation, engineering, and the socio-economic evolution of river transport in Germany. Exhibits occupy both the former indoor swimming pool hall and several historic ships permanently moored in the adjacent harbor. Visitors can board the motor tanker 'Oscar Huber' and the paddle steamer 'Minden' to inspect original engines and captain's quarters. Interactive displays demonstrate the mechanics of locks, dams, and ship steering. The museum documents the transformation of Duisburg-Ruhrort into the world's largest inland port. It provides detailed insight into the lives of river boatmen and their families throughout the 20th century. Historical technical equipment, including anchors, propellers, and communication devices, are displayed throughout the industrial-era architecture.
The main exhibition hall looking over the former pool area, or from the deck of the 'Minden' looking out toward the harbor.
Plan to explore the outdoor harbor area separately, as the moored ships offer a different experience from the indoor galleries.
Wear comfortable, flat shoes as the decks of the historic ships have steep staircases and uneven steel surfaces.
Combine your visit with a harbor boat tour, as several operators depart from the nearby Ruhrort docks.
Do not attempt to explore the ships without proper footwear, as decks may be slippery.
Closed on Mondays.
Maintain caution on ship decks; follow signage regarding restricted machinery areas.
