1693 The Niederwald was bought by Count Ostein. He subsequently built the castle (now Jagdschloss Niederwald) and transformed the Niederwald into a fantastic spacious park area - including the view points "Temple, Eremitage, Rossel, Rittersaal and Zauberhoehle". He opened this all to the public aud subsequently laid the foundation for one of the main attractions for tourists all over the world.

1813 Michael Dominikus Meurer opened the first guest house in the Drosselgasse, named DROSSELMUELLER.

1825 the Rheinstrasse was build and the first steamer came from Cologne via the Binger bend.

1837 The Duesseldorfer Rhine steamer took up regular service on the Rhine and docked in Ruedesheim.

1843 Boat trips were available everyday from Strassbourg and everyday from London except Mondays. Thomas Cook was the first Travel Agency to book into Ruedesheim.

1866 There were too many wine drinking places in Ruedesheim. Therefore it was decided by the community council that only nine winegrowers would be allowed to serve.

1868 A police order was given to tourist guides for renting wagons, horses and donkeys. By this time the famous Niederwald could be reached by coach with a regular timetable.

1870 At this early date Ruedesheim was known as the "Pearl of the Rheingau region" and it was the main tourist attraction. In the high season up to 100 people arrived everyday by ship.

1871 the Wiesbadener spa director Ferdinand Heyl proclaimed the Niederwald to be one of the most wonderful view points in Germany and suggested to build the Germania statue there.

1873 it was finally decided that the Niederwald would be the place for the statue. Until the laying of the foundation in 1877 the roads were build and plastered in Ruedesheim.

1878 in order to avoid confusion with Ruedesheim on the Nahe - the cityname "RUEDESHEIM AM RHEIN" was decided upon.

1883 the Niederwald monument had its inauguration.

1884 the first cable car goes up to the Niederwald.

1885 the work is taken up for a second cable-car from Assmannshausen to the Niederwald monument. At that time 'Mass tourism" began to Ruedesheim am Rhein.

1904 the tourist association was formed. It had then 118 members, today it has 319. Already speedboat from the Koeln-Duesseldorfer shipping compmy travelled on the Rhine, it was advertised in Germany and foreign newspapers, it was negotiated with the railways to connect special trains with Ruedesheim, but also complained because of the impossible health damaging fumes which the steam trains released when passing.

1906 There were two tourist associations between Mainz md Cologne - one in Koenigswinter and the other in Ruedesheim.

1927 the first tourist office and youth hostel opened.

From 1930 there were three guesthouses. It was during this time that many of the famous Rhine songs became popular.

1932 Ruedesheim celebrated it's first wine festival

With courtesy of www.ruedesheim.de