Entrance Hall (Eingangshalle)

The entrance hall is the first port of call for visitors. It houses the checkout and ticket area, the information point and the shop. The hall was built in 1982, and from 2005 to 2006, the exhibition hall and permanent collection were completely redesigned and modernized, and air conditioning was installed. Particular attention was paid to providing barrier-free access to all the exhibition areas. The exhibition hall comprises the museum library and a cinema accommodating up to 60 visitors, which can also be used for lectures. The permanent collection, which covers 800m², focuses on the colonization of the Emsland peat moorlands in the 18th and 19th centuries, provides information about the living and working conditions of the settlers, describes economic and socio-cultural structures and explains the development of peat extraction until the beginning of industrial peat production in the early 20th century. Apart from history, the ground floor is devoted to peatland flora and fauna.