Antique map - Gelsenkirchen 1934

City plan of Gelsenkirchen in 1934 : discover the industrial boom of the Ruhr, its neighborhoods, its mines and its railways at the heart of Germany.

This plan of Gelsenkirchen, Gelsenkirchen in German, depicts the city in 1934. Located in the Ruhr region, in western Germany, it was then part of the province of Westphalia (Westfalen), in the Free State of Prussia. It is now part of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (Nordrhein-Westfalen). From the mid-19th century, Gelsenkirchen underwent profound transformation thanks to coal mining and the development of the steel industry. By 1933, the city already had more than 330,000 inhabitants, reflecting its spectacular growth in just a few decades. 

The history of Gelsenkirchen is closely linked to that of German industrialization. Once comprising villages and agricultural land, the area underwent a radical transformation starting in the 1850s, when the exploitation of coal deposits attracted businesses and workers. The city obtained its municipal rights in 1875 and gradually became one of Europe's major industrial centers. In the 1920s and 1930s, despite the economic difficulties affecting the mining sector, its landscape remained marked by railway infrastructure, industrial facilities, and the expansion of working-class neighborhoods. The 1934 plan bears witness to this city in full transformation, at the heart of the Ruhr basin. 

Places and neighborhoods depicted:

• The city center (Innenstadt) – at the heart of the plan, the center of Gelsenkirchen brings together the main road arteries, public buildings, and shopping streets. The central railway station, indicated by the label Haupt-Bhf., occupies a strategic position in the urban layout.

• The railways – the railway network crosses the city and connects the various neighborhoods to the coal fields and industrial areas of the Ruhr. It plays an essential role in the transport of coal, raw materials, and goods, as well as in the daily commutes of residents.

• The industrial and mining sites – the large industrial sites and the infrastructure related to coal mining remind us of the importance of heavy industry in the local economy. Gelsenkirchen was long considered one of Europe's major coal-mining centers, nicknamed the « city of a thousand lights » because of the industrial facilities that animated its landscape.

• The residential neighborhoods – around the center, the plan shows residential areas, secondary streets, and sectors undergoing urbanization. These neighborhoods bear witness to the population growth caused by industrialization and the settlement of many workers who came to meet the needs of the mines and factories.

• The green spaces and parks – several areas colored green indicate gardens, parks, and undeveloped spaces. These areas contrast with the density of industrial and residential infrastructure, offering landmarks in the urban landscape.

• The public facilities and notable places – the legend located at the bottom of the plan lists several places of interest, notably administrative buildings, religious establishments, sports facilities, and cultural sites. It makes it easier to understand the organization of the city and the services available in 1934.

• The road arteries and neighboring towns – the main roads, highlighted in yellow, connect Gelsenkirchen to the surrounding municipalities, notably Buer, Dorsten, Her ten, Recklinghausen, Wattenscheid and Bochum. These indications illustrate the close links between the cities of the Ruhr industrial basin.

Cartographic reference: this « Stadtplan Gelsenkirchen » presents a detailed view of the city in 1934, at a time when its development was strongly linked to the coal and steel industry. The plan uses a grid of letters and numbers to locate the streets and places listed in the legend. The main roads appear in yellow, the railways in black and gray, the waterways in blue and the green spaces in green. The lower legend also includes the locations of Shell service stations and a directory of notable places. The whole offers a valuable testimony to the urban organization of Gelsenkirchen during the interwar period.

In short: for fans of industrial history, German geography and old maps, this plan of Gelsenkirchen offers a fascinating glimpse of the Ruhr in 1934. Between railways, residential neighborhoods, green spaces and industrial infrastructure, it tells the story of a city shaped by coal and economic growth. Its soft colors and technical drawing also make it an original decorative piece for a desk, a library, or an interior inspired by European industrial history.

What area does this map of Gelsenkirchen cover? It covers the center of Gelsenkirchen and its surroundings, with the central railway station, the residential neighborhoods, the main road arteries, the railways and the industrial areas, as well as sectors in the direction of Buer, Wattenscheid and Bochum.

In what year was this map published? This map dates from 1934. It depicts Gelsenkirchen during the interwar period, when the city was one of the major industrial centers of the Ruhr.

Reproduction of the « Stadtplan Gelsenkirchen », published in 1934.

Printed on textured art paper 200 g/m². Portrait orientation, standard formats 50x70 and 70x100 : easy to frame.