Meteorkratermuseum
Museum in the Steinheim Basin on the meteorite impact, the crater lake and Tertiary-era fossils, scientifically supervised by the Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
About 15 million years ago a meteorite struck what is now the Steinheim Basin, leaving one of the best-preserved impact craters, with a central uplift. The Meteorkrater-Museum in the district of Sontheim has been presenting these events and their consequences since 1978.
After the impact a crater lake formed, in whose sediments countless organisms were exceptionally well preserved. Around 230 animal and 90 plant species are known, offering a glimpse of a Tertiary world about 14 million years ago. In 1994 the building was extended and technically updated.
The first exhibition room covers geology: how impact craters form, earlier attempts to explain the basin, the proof of the impact, and changes to the subsurface as shown by drill cores and finds. The second room presents the results of paleontological research and the development of the crater lake, including in a diorama. A 3-D animated film from 2009 brings the impact to life. The museum belongs to the municipality, is affiliated with the Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart and serves as an information point for the UNESCO Global Geopark Schwäbische Alb.
Highlights
- Exhibition on the meteorite impact in the Steinheim Basin
- Fossils of around 230 animal and 90 plant species from the crater lake
- Diorama of the lake landscape after the impact
- 3-D animated film (German, English, French)
- Preparation room for own finds (by registration)
- Founded
- 1978
- Operated by
- Gemeinde Steinheim am Albuch
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €3 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €1.50Pupils, trainees, students and people with disabilities |
| Groups (15+ people) | €2.50 per personAdults in groups of 15 or more people |
| Families | €6 |
Guided tour per group €30; advance registration required.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Family ticket | €6 |
|---|
- Hands-on stations
The animated film and hands-on geology and paleontology for young and old; family ticket available.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Guided tours for groups by advance registration (tel. 07329 9606-52). In the preparation room, own finds can be prepared under expert guidance (registration required). |
