In Lunenburg harbor on the Ilmenau is an old historic harbor crane, and is considered one of the landmarks of the Hanseatic city. Built in 1797 the port crane characterizes today the image of Lunenburg Water District. At this point in 1330, a crane was first mentioned. The crane is built of load-bearing timber frame. This was disguised as weather protection with boards. The roof panels are covered with copper. The circular base of the harbor crane is fixed and has a diameter of 8 meters. The upper part with the crane boom is pivoted. The counter weight of the load is composed of four 200-pound sandstone blocks. The chain winds in the upper part is powered by a 9-meter vertical shaft. This by a double treadmill with 5 meters in diameter which is located in the lower part of the crane. The crane was used primarily for the Lüneburg Saltworks shipping of salt produced there. From here, this has been transported across the Stecknitz to Lübeck and in other cities. The original crane over the centuries has been constantly updated and remodeled. He existed in its present form since 1797. In 1840, the crane lifted its heaviest load. For the Duke of Brunswick State Railway steam locomotive was supplied by the British company George Forrester & Company. This was conveyed by sea to Germany. To lift then the treading of 38 people was needed. With the construction of the railway line between Hamburg and Hanover in 1847, the transport of goods shifted increasingly from water to rail, for this reason the crane turned in 1860 from economic reasons to operate.