Heimatmuseum Ronnenberg

About the museum

The impetus was the end of potash mining: after the Ronnenberg potash mine had to be abandoned in 1975 following a brine inflow, Bruno Kaleschke and the local Heimatbund set up a first local history museum in 1976 in the former works canteen on Gehrdener Straße. Because space there soon ran out, the town made available the residential buildings of a vacant, town-owned farm in the village center; on June 17, 1978 the museum Über den Beeken was inaugurated.

Since October 1985 the house has been run by the specially founded Museumsverein Stadt Ronnenberg e. V. Its members developed the protected manor house, built in 1868, step by step into a museum and expanded the collection through numerous donations from the population.

Between 2020 and 2024 the town had the building remodeled: an extension with a stairwell and elevator has since made the museum accessible to wheelchair users as well, and new restrooms and a wedding room of the registry office were also created. On International Museum Day, May 19, 2024, the museum reopened with newly arranged rooms.

On view are, among other things, the largely original "good parlor" of a wealthy Calenberg farming family from the late 19th century, a living kitchen of the 1950s, a classroom and a large section on potash salt mining on the Benther Salzstock. Other areas commemorate the Jewish families of Ronnenberg until 1938 and forced laborers and refugees in the camps of Empelde and Benthe. In the attic there are workshops and tools from crafts and farming, plus a grocer's shop from Weetzen and taxidermied local birds.

Highlights

• Ratsstube – "good parlor" of a Calenberg farming family around 1900
• Section on potash salt mining with a film about the mine's closure in 1975
• 1950s living kitchen and historic classroom
• Werner Pieper's grocer's shop from Weetzen (1956–1988)
• Local birds with a sound generator at the push of a button
• Craft workshops and farm machinery in the attic

Permanent exhibitions

• Leben früher: Ratsstube, Wohnküche und Klassenzimmer – Furnished rooms show the everyday life of past generations – from a farming family's good parlor around 1900 and a 1950s kitchen to a classroom with wooden benches and slate boards.
• Kalisalzbergbau in Ronnenberg – Exhibits, display cases and picture panels tell of the four potash mines on the Benther Salzstock up to their closure after the brine inflow of 1975.
• Handwerk und Landwirtschaft – In the attic stand complete workshops, work tools and farm machinery as well as a historic grocer's shop from Weetzen.

Founded

1976

Operated by

Museumsverein Stadt Ronnenberg e. V.

Admission & discounts

The museum does not state admission prices; donations to the museum association are welcome.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Since the remodeling (May 2024), accessible to wheelchair users with an elevator; please ring the bell at the side entrance.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

The museum sees itself as a "hands-on museum." After a tour, school classes can complete a scavenger hunt or a questionnaire with the museum ghost "Momolo"; the bird exhibition plays animal sounds at the push of a button.

Getting there & parking

Main entrance on the street Über den Beeken, in the immediate vicinity of a large EDEKA supermarket.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Weddings / ceremonies

The Ratsstube is available to members of the museum association and local clubs for meetings and celebrations (please register). On the ground floor there is a wedding room of the registry office of the town of Ronnenberg.

Plan your visit