museUm Uznach

About the museum

The impetus for a local museum came in 1941, when the 1,200th anniversary of Uznach's first documentary mention was celebrated with an exhibition in the town hall. The local historians Alois Blöchliger and Paul Oberholzer wanted to turn this into a permanent local history collection, which opened in 1953 in the Tönierhaus of the Catholic parish. In 1984 the collection moved to the Frohsinn Center, where, however, only one room was available for the entire collection.

In 1997 the local municipality of Uznach became the sole sponsor. When the newly founded Kunsthof AG renovated the former farmhouse with its attached barn near the Kreuzkirche, the municipality rented two floors there and set up a thematically organized museum, which opened in December 2004. Five sections are devoted to the following themes: Alt Uznach (Old Uznach), Trade and Crafts, Transport by Road, Rail and Water, and Culture and Nature.

On display are, among other things, Celtic finds from Balmenrain, objects relating to Uznaberg Castle, paintings by portrait painters from Uznach from the 18th and 19th centuries, the history of the mail coach, the postal bus and the railway, and a petrified rhinoceros skull from the Uznaberg. An additional room on the third floor and the veranda show changing special exhibitions. The museum is free to visit on its regular opening days.

Highlights

• Old Uznach: Celtic finds, Uznaberg Castle and historical views of the town
• Trade and crafts with a touchscreen and the Strotz umbrella factory
• Transport: mail coach, postal bus, railway and Linth shipping
• Portrait painters of the 18th and 19th centuries from Uznach
• Petrified rhinoceros skull and brook lamprey (Bachneunauge) in the Nature section

Permanent exhibitions

• Alt Uznach – The first room displays objects from the former local history collection, including Celtic finds, pieces relating to Uznaberg Castle, a papal charter, old views and paintings of Uznach.
• Verkehr auf Strasse, Schiene und Wasser – This section tells the story of road construction, mail coach traffic, the postal bus center, the railway (connection in 1859, Rickenbahn in 1910) and boat travel on the Linth and the Steinenbach.
• Natur – The focus is on the location between the Swiss Plateau (Mittelland) and the Alps, as well as the Linth Works (Linthwerk) and land reclamation. On show are, among other things, a 20-million-year-old rhinoceros skull, the brook lamprey, the black-headed gull and the Eurasian otter.

Founded

2004

Operated by

Ortsgemeinde Uznach

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free on regular opening days. The booklet “Uznacher Wirtschaften – einst und heute” is also for sale (CHF 28).

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

The museum is located on the second and third floors of the former farmhouse. The website provides no information on accessibility.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the former farmhouse next to the Kunsthof on Zürcherstrasse, near the Kreuzkirche.

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