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The mining museum in Herdorf-Sassenroth - Glückauf in the former centre of the Siegerland mining region
Here you will be warmly welcomed with a loud "Glück Auf"! Discover many interesting exhibits on the subject of mining in the Siegerland and experience how the region was shaped by mining. There is something for the whole family to discover here!
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Here you will find over 200 exhibits, supplemented by texts, large photos and modern AV media. A walk through the exhibition mine set up under the museum will give you an impressive glimpse into the working world of the miners. In addition to the guided tour, the museum has much more to offer. For example, you can book mineral excursions for school classes and youth groups or celebrate children's birthday parties (with a treasure hunt). It is also possible to book a combined programme consisting of a mining museum and an excursion to the Hüttenwäldchen tunnel, but full-day programmes are also available by arrangement.
History
The iron mines in the Altenkirchen district belonged to the Siegerländer-Wieder mining district. In addition to iron ore extraction, there was also extensive mining of silver, copper, lead, zinc and cobalt. Around 1900, 15,000 miners were still employed. Well-known smelters, steelworks and rolling mills, together with the mines, shaped the working world. With the structural change in the 1950s and 1960s, the mining and smelting tradition came to an end.
Outdoor area
Outside, a 15-metre-high winding tower and engine house give the impression of a small colliery. Here, large-scale equipment from the Charlottenhütte's Siemens-Martin steelworks provides an insight into the metallurgical industry.
Exhibition
Text panels, pictures and numerous exhibits document the history of the Siegerland region from its beginnings around 500 B.C. to industrialisation and the closure of the last mines in 1965. Topics such as the mining industry and charcoal burning also have their place here. Monitors can be used to play original recordings of documentary value on individual topics, thus providing a 'moving' view of the past.
Special exhibitions
In addition to the permanent presentation, special exhibitions are held several times a year.
Mineral Cabinet
An extensive mineral cabinet presents the beauty and diversity of the Siegerland 'steps' and an exhibition of mining 'Geleuchts' documents the development of lamps used underground. A special focus is on the everyday life of the people at that time: the museum shows how the miners and workers of the region lived, what customs they cultivated and how the attachment to the mining working world found expression in religiosity, art and literature.
Exhibition mine
A highlight of the museum visit is the tour of the exhibition mine in the basement. The tour takes you past shafts and filling points, through variously developed roadways and tunnels, and into mines. Mine locomotives, loading machines, pneumatic drills and other tools, together with original sounds, create an impression of underground operations and the everyday life of a miner in a mine.
Children's birthday parties
A treasure hunt takes the children through the museum and the exhibition mine. The programme is designed for children between 8 and 12 years of age. The number of children does not matter. For more information, please contact the Mining Museum.
Educational programmes
The Mining Museum emphasises educational programmes for school classes and youth groups. Special guided tours are offered for adult groups. Special tip: Combine your visit to the museum with a guided tour of the mining history of the "Guldenhardt" mine and a tour of the "Hüttenwäldchen" tunnel.
Registration
For group tours, children's birthday parties and mineral excursions, advance booking is required by telephone on 02744/6389.
The mining museum is a place of experience on the "Iron Route of South Westphalia", a highlight of "WasserEisenLand - Industrial Culture in South Westphalia" and the northernmost geopark information centre of the Westerwald-Lahn-Taunus Geopark. At the same time, the mining museum is a stage stop on the "Druidensteig" geo-hiking trail.
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Contact and directions
Schulstraße 1
57562 Herdorf/Sassenroth