Explore the heart of the city
Guided Tour of Colonial Traces in Hagen's City Centre
On August 9, 2023, the Adult Education Centre Hagen, in collaboration with the FernUniversität in Hagen, Department of "History of Europe in the World," is hosting a fascinating guided tour of colonial traces in Hagen's city centre. The tour will take place from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, with the meeting point at Friedrich-Ebert-Platz, in front of the former town hall.
Hagen, Germany, between approximately 1850 and 1960, does not have a colonial history in the traditional sense. However, its development during that period can be contextualized within Germany’s broader colonial and industrial history, reflected in urban features and local associations.
During the tour, experts from the FernUniversität in Hagen will explore examples of colonial traces in Hagen, such as colonial associations, ethnological exhibitions, entrepreneurial activities overseas, emigration, the dispatch of missionaries and colonial officials, everyday racism, street names, and revisionist claims.
The tour will provide insights into the diverse connections between urban history and colonial history, focusing on the period between approximately 1850 and 1960. Participants will learn about Hagen’s role as an industrial hub that contributed to Germany’s imperial economy, as well as urban features and associations that symbolize national pride in colonialism during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The tour will take place on level terrain in Hagen's city centre, with a walking distance of approximately 2 km. It is barrier-free, making it accessible to all participants.
Registration for the tour is required through the VHS service team at telephone number 02331/207-3622 or via the website vhs-hagen.de. Participation in the tour is free.
Join us for this unique opportunity to discover Hagen's colonial past hidden in its cityscape!
On the guided tour, one may encounter instances of colonial traces in Hagen's home-and-garden associations and lifestyle, reflecting Germany's broader colonial and industrial history during the specified period. The tour will highlight examples of street names, entrepreneurial activities overseas, and revised historical claims that portray colonial influences in the city's urban features.
