Podcast Tour Maximilianpark: Coal Mine to Glass Elephant

A coal mine became a 35-meter glass elephant and a tropical butterfly reserve.

This 104-minute self-guided podcast tour of Maximilianpark traces Hamm's industrial rebirth through seven stops across 2.8 km, from the disused coal mine of 1902 to the glass elephant that now stands where the pit once operated. Audio narration by experts and locals plays through the app. You navigate between stations at your own pace and pause to explore. Suitable for ages 13 and up. Available in English and German.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Maximilianpark and mining heritage

• Start at Hamm coal history site
• Visit former coal dust brushing hall
• See old mine electric heart
• Walk on 35m glass elephant
• Explore tropical butterfly microclimate
• Ride miniature railway in park
• Discover mining workers' settlement

The experience

The tour starts at the coal mine's original entrance, where the story of Hamm's industrial past unfolds. From there, the route moves through seven distinct sites: the miners' dust-off station, now a cultural hall; the former power plant that once ran the water pumps; the 35-meter glass elephant itself, which you can walk inside; a tropical butterfly reserve built on what was toxic wasteland; a miniature railway connecting past and present; and the historical miners' settlement anchored in the neighborhood. Each stop has its own audio segment delivered in podcast style, mixing expert voices with accounts from locals who lived through the transformation.

You control the pace entirely. The app guides you between stations with precise navigation and answers questions about what you're seeing as you move through the park. The whole route covers 2.8 km and takes around 104 minutes if you move straight through, but you can linger at any stop or skip ahead. The audio is available in English and German, and the terrain suits all fitness levels.

Public transportation connects to the park, and service animals are welcome. This is a solo or small-group experience. You're not part of a scheduled group, so you start when you want and follow the story at whatever speed makes sense for your day.

What’s included

• Verified facts woven into an engaging story.
• interactive in-app guide for questions about the story and surroundings.
• precise navigation between the seven stops.
• immersive podcast-style audio featuring experts and locals.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Under 13: can't be booked

Audio guideEnglish and German

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Red Thread

Is this one for you?This is a self-guided experience you control entirely through the app, so it suits anyone who wants to explore at their own pace without a scheduled group or live guide. The podcast narration means you get expert context and local voices without needing a person leading you, and you can pause, linger or move ahead as your interest dictates.

Top questions

What exactly is the glass elephant at Maximilianpark?

The glass elephant is a 35-meter-high walkable structure that rises from the site of the former coal mine. It symbolizes Hamm's structural transformation and stands as the park's most recognizable landmark. The tour includes a stop where you can enter it.

How long does the whole tour take?

The full route is 104 minutes if you move through all seven stops without pausing, but you set the pace. You can spend more time at any station or move faster between them depending on your interest.

Do I need a guide, or do I navigate on my own?

You navigate on your own using the app, which provides precise directions between the seven stops and plays audio content at each one. There's no live guide. The narration comes from experts and locals recorded in podcast style.

What was Maximilianpark before it became a cultural destination?

Maximilianpark grew from a disused coal mine that operated from 1902 and a State Garden Show held in 1984. The site was industrial wasteland, toxic in places, before being radically redesigned into an ecological and cultural park with the butterfly reserve, cultural hall, and glass elephant.

Is this tour suitable for children?

The tour is suitable for ages 13 and up. The podcast-style narration is designed for anyone interested in urbanism and infrastructure innovation, and the terrain is accessible for all fitness levels.