Mansfeld-Museum

About the museum

The Mansfeld-Museum opened in September 1989 as the company museum of the Mansfeld Kombinat, which at the time combined the region's copper shale mining, smelting, and semi-finished products industry. As early as 1985, a working replica of the steam engine that went into operation in 1785 at the König-Friedrich-Schacht as the first German machine based on James Watt's principle had been set up on the estate grounds.

The museum is housed in the Baroque manor house Burgörner, built around 1720 and now called Humboldt-Schloss. In the 18th century it belonged to the von Dacheröden family; Wilhelm von Humboldt met Caroline von Dacheröden here, and the couple spent their first years of marriage in Burgörner. Later, officials of Mansfeld AG lived here, and after 1945 it served as housing for resettlers.

With the dissolution of the Kombinat from 1990, the building lost its role as a company museum but gained importance as the memory of a mining tradition that had come to an end. The collection comprises thousands of objects, photos, and films as well as the Kombinat's former archive of mine plans. Today the museum is run by the town of Hettstedt; after renovation and redesign it presents the permanent exhibition "Die Kupferstadt Hettstedt" (The Copper Town of Hettstedt) and a park-like outdoor area with heavy machinery.

Highlights

• Working replica of the first German Watt-type steam engine (original 1785)
• Permanent exhibition "Die Kupferstadt Hettstedt"
• Richly decorated wooden staircase of the Humboldt-Schloss
• Traces of Wilhelm and Caroline von Humboldt
• Outdoor area with machinery from mining, smelting, and copper processing

Permanent exhibitions

• Die Kupferstadt Hettstedt – City history from its beginnings to the present, closely linked with 800 years of copper mining, smelting, and metalworking, as well as the von Dacheröden and von Humboldt families.
• Dampfmaschine – True-to-original, working replica of the first German steam engine based on Watt's principle, installed in Hettstedt in 1785.
• Außenbereich – In the park-like grounds, large machines show how ore was mined, smelted, and processed into semi-finished copper products.

Founded

1989

Operated by

Stadt Hettstedt

Admission & discounts

Audio guide included in admission. Cash only.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• 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

The historic castle building is not accessible; the outdoor area with the steam engine demonstration is wheelchair-accessible.

Kids & families

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

Getting there & parking

The museum is located in the south of Hettstedt in the Burgörner-Altdorf district. From the A 14, exit Plötzkau, via Hettstedt toward Sangerhausen (B 86), left shortly after leaving town; from the direction of Eisleben/Halle (B 180), via Siersleben, left before the entrance to Hettstedt (follow the signs).

Amenities & dining

Cash only.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Festsaal "Caroline" (banquet hall) for weddings, conferences, and celebrations; weddings via the Hettstedt registry office.

Plan your visit