Open since 2001, this theater house is one of the most important cultural and social centers of Gelsenkirchen, with special atention to people of different ages and origin. It is also part of the historical heritage of Gelsenkirchen, having been built on the spot of an ancient coal mine known as the "Zechengelände Consolidation".

The Music Theatre in the Ruhr is the main opera house of Gelsenkirchen since 1959, and was listed as a protected cultural monument since 1997. It was designed by the German architect Werner Ruhnau as a cubic-shaped outer shell composed by a 4,500 square metres (48,000 sq ft) glass facade.

The artists' settlement of Halfmannshof was founded in 1931 to house a community of artists and their families. Up to 9 families lived here until the end of 2012, and is now being converted into a a place to live and work for over than 20 artists from different fields.

It is a castle considered one of the oldest and most important Renaissance buildings in the state of Westphalia. Built in the 16th century, it was at the time one of the largest palace complexes north of the Alps and a great example of the Lippe Renaissance architectural style.

The institute of the city history has a permanent exhibition of the National Socialism history in Gelsenkirchen. It is located in one of the few preserved historical places from the "Third Reich".