From 1912 to 1953, a tramway ran along the Externsteine road, operated by Paderborner Elektrizitätswerke und Straßenbahn AG (PESAG).
A stop was located right next to the stones.

With the introduction of a road numbering system in 1932, the road passing between the stones became part of Fernverkehrsstraße Nr.
1 (Aachen–Königsberg).
The course of the road was relocated to the south-east in order to protect the stones in 1936.
This is now Bundesstraße 1.

In 1926, the Externsteine were declared "one of the oldest and most important nature reserves in Lippe" and were placed under protection.
Today the preserve measures approximately 27 acres (0.11 km²; 0.042 sq mi), and forms part of the ‘Teutoburg Forest’ nature reserve, Externsteine.

Wilhelm Teudt was particularly interested in the Externsteine, which he suggested was the location of a central Saxon shrine, the location of Irminsul and an ancient sun observatory.
Since the mid-1920s he had popularized them by calling them the "Germanic Stonehenge".

Teudt popularized the identification of the site as that of the Saxon Irminsul destroyed by Charlemagne.
Teudt could refer to a total number of more than 40 publications on the Externsteine, including eleven substantial monographs, most of which he considered outdated.
In 1932, the area was excavated (for the third time) by August Stieren but no "cultural remains" were discovered.

During the period of Nazi rule, the Externsteine became a focus of nationalistic propaganda.
In 1933, the "Externsteine Foundation" was established and Heinrich Himmler became its president.
Interest in the location was furthered by the Ahnenerbe division within the SS, who studied the stones for their value to Germanic folklore and history.

After the Nazis came to power, Teudt was put in charge of additional excavations at the site and appointed Julius Andree to head the work done there by the Reichsarbeitsdienst in 1934/35.
 Teudt thought that the Externsteine had served as an observatory until its destruction by Charlemagne.
He initiated the demolishing of tourist infrastructure (tramway, hotels) and the creation of a "sacred grove" or Heiligtum nearby.
The SS used Serbian prisoners of war for the project.

Since the 1950s, the Externsteine were developed into a popular tourist attraction.
The section of the tramway line connecting to the Externsteine was closed in 1953.
In 1958, visitor numbers were around 224,000 people annually.
From 1912 to 1953, a tramway ran along the Externsteine road, operated by Paderborner Elektrizitätswerke und Straßenbahn AG (PESAG). A stop was located right next to the stones.
With the introduction of a road numbering system in 1932, the road passing between the stones became part of Fernverkehrsstraße Nr. 1 (Aachen–Königsberg). The course of the road was relocated to the south-east in order to protect the stones in 1936. This is now Bundesstraße 1.
In 1926, the Externsteine were declared "one of the oldest and most important nature reserves in Lippe" and were placed under protection. Today the preserve measures approximately 27 acres (0.11 km²; 0.042 sq mi), and forms part of the ‘Teutoburg Forest’ nature reserve, Externsteine.
Wilhelm Teudt was particularly interested in the Externsteine, which he suggested was the location of a central Saxon shrine, the location of Irminsul and an ancient sun observatory. Since the mid-1920s he had popularized them by calling them the "Germanic Stonehenge".
Teudt popularized the identification of the site as that of the Saxon Irminsul destroyed by Charlemagne. Teudt could refer to a total number of more than 40 publications on the Externsteine, including eleven substantial monographs, most of which he considered outdated. In 1932, the area was excavated (for the third time) by August Stieren but no "cultural remains" were discovered.
During the period of Nazi rule, the Externsteine became a focus of nationalistic propaganda. In 1933, the "Externsteine Foundation" was established and Heinrich Himmler became its president. Interest in the location was furthered by the Ahnenerbe division within the SS, who studied the stones for their value to Germanic folklore and history.
After the Nazis came to power, Teudt was put in charge of additional excavations at the site and appointed Julius Andree to head the work done there by the Reichsarbeitsdienst in 1934/35.  Teudt thought that the Externsteine had served as an observatory until its destruction by Charlemagne. He initiated the demolishing of tourist infrastructure (tramway, hotels) and the creation of a "sacred grove" or Heiligtum nearby. The SS used Serbian prisoners of war for the project.
Since the 1950s, the Externsteine were developed into a popular tourist attraction. The section of the tramway line connecting to the Externsteine was closed in 1953. In 1958, visitor numbers were around 224,000 people annually.
Externsteine