Oberharz Bining Museum threatens - citizens defend themselves!

Oberharz Bining Museum threatens - citizens defend themselves!

In Clausthal-Zellerfeld, the Oberharz mine museum is about to end. On January 1, 2026, the traditional museum should close after the city council has decided to hire the company. The reason for this tragic decision is to fail when looking for a new operator and the enormous renovation costs that the city of Clausthal-Zellerfeld cannot bear. The museum, which was founded in 1892, is not only the oldest technology and open-air museum in Germany, but also a central point of contact for the history of Harz mining.

The museum documents over 130 years of Montan history and offers visitors an insight into the life and work of the miners. It not only houses interesting exhibits, but also historical buildings and a show mine. For many citizens and descendants of former miners, the museum is far more than just a place of attraction - it is part of their identity and their family inheritance.

The challenges of closure

As it becomes clear in several statements, historians and residents fear that the closure not only endangers the museum, but also the cultural identity of the entire region. In the city council, those responsible tried to find a new operator until the end, but all efforts remained unsuccessful. An operator could theoretically be found until December 4, 2025, but the prospects are dark. The city faces financial problems and considerable structural defects, which are in need of renovation for a single building with an estimated 7 million euros.

The citizens also have to fear that the closure brings economic disadvantages. The museum attracts numerous visitors every year who not only appreciate the history of mining, but also enjoy the surrounding natural landscape. An important part of regional tourism could be lost. In addition, the museum is an important place of encounter where events take place regularly.

Commitment to the preservation

In order to ensure the preservation of the museum, the signs are on resistance. Museum director Ulrich Reiff plans a petition and is supported by the Museumsverband Lower Saxony and Bremen. Citizens and companies are looking for new carrier models, cooperation and opportunities to raise funding in order to maintain the operation of the museum. An online petition is planned to address a wide audience and bring the concerned citizens together.

The Oberharz mine museum is also in the context of the UNESCO World Heritage in the Harz, which also includes the former mines in Rammelsberg and the old town of Goslar. This world heritage site, overgrown at 3,000 years of the Montanwirtschaft, is a valuable cultural asset that is important not only for the region, but for the entire history of Europe. The closure of the museum would not only mean a local loss, but also a step backwards for the world heritage and its cultural importance.

It remains to be seen whether the commitment of the citizens and the planned actions will be sufficient to preserve the Oberharz mine museum from the impending closure.