Heimatmuseum Sissach

About the museum

The Heimatmuseum Sissach dates back to 1922. The citizens' community, with a well-filled treasury at the time, was able to acquire the large weapons collection of the Sissach antiquities enthusiast Julius Oberer-Wachter, laying the foundation; a museum commission then developed the collection into a proper museum. It is considered one of the oldest museum foundations of its kind in north-western Switzerland.

The collection was first housed in the municipal building and the primary school. In 1946 the citizens' community rented the old ballroom in the property belonging to the Hotel Sonne, and soon afterwards bought the building. After the ground floor became vacant in 1979, the weaving centre "Dem Seidenband ein Denkmal" (a monument to the silk ribbon) was created there over three years of conversion and inaugurated in 1982. The building is under cantonal heritage protection and was renovated externally in 1988 and 2018; since then a ramp has led to the ground floor.

Today the museum shows a large costume collection with silver jewellery from the upper Baselbiet in the ballroom, the weapons collection on the gallery, and on the ground floor the ribbon weavers' parlour with ribbon looms as well as a historical kitchen. On the first floor there are finds from the Bischofstein castle ruins, a castle model and furniture from a bourgeois parlour. Changing special and guest exhibitions complete the offer; the owner is the Bürgergemeinde Sissach.

Highlights

• Costume collection with silver jewellery from the upper Baselbiet (around 1830/40)
• Weapons collection from the late 16th to the 20th century with richly decorated powder horns
• Ribbon weavers' parlour with a punch-card ribbon loom and weaving demonstrations
• Finds and castle model of the Bischofstein ruins
• Sgraffiti by Hugo Cleis (1955) on the south façade

Permanent exhibitions

• Trachten – In the ballroom the museum shows a unique collection of Basel-Landschaft costumes from the first half of the 19th century, together with silver jewellery.
• Waffensammlung – On the gallery hang halberds, spears, rapiers, hunting weapons, pistols and rifles from the late 16th to the 20th century, plus decorated powder horns of the 17th century.
• Webstühle und Posamenter – The ribbon weavers' parlour pays tribute to the silk ribbon; a punch-card ribbon loom and a ribbon mill are demonstrated.

Founded

1922

Operated by

Bürgergemeinde Sissach

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free; a box for voluntary donations is at the exit.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• 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

Since the 2018 renovation a ramp leads to the ground floor; the other exhibition rooms are on the first and second floors.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

Navigation address: Zunzgerstrasse 2, 4450 Sissach.

Amenities & dining

• Café

Café in the changing exhibition room with small snacks, opposite a historical kitchen with a hearth and smoke hood; a commemorative anniversary coin is on sale.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit