Ortsmuseum Binningen
Local history museum in the old Holeeschulhaus with a dental practice from around 1930, a printing shop, a pin factory and Basel artists' masks – free admission.
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About the museum
Since 1932, working groups in Binningen collected and photographed in order to be able to present the local history. After exhibitions in 1936, 1956 and 1978, an interest group led by the former municipal administrator Bruno Gehrig built up the Ortsmuseum. In 1987 it opened in the former Holeeschulhaus on the Holeerain.
Until the association was founded in October 2005, a group of volunteers ran the building. Since then, the Verein Ortsmuseum Binningen has managed and looked after the museum under a service agreement with the municipality, which owns the building and the museum collection. The museum consists of the collection, the permanent exhibition and temporary exhibitions, and aims to bring the past closer to the public and connect it with the present.
On four floors, visitors can see, among other things, a dental practice from around 1930, a working printing shop from around 1920, parts of the Binningen pin factory IRIS, a village shop and the collection of Basel artists' masks in the carnival attic. Other areas are devoted to Binningen personalities such as Curt Goetz or Rudolph "Bolo" Mäglin, as well as the nature, history and trades of the village. As a museum ghost, the figure MuBi accompanies events and films.
Highlights
- Dental practice from around 1930 with an X-ray machine from 1927
- Working printing shop from around 1920
- IRIS pin factory (1943–1991) rebuilt in the museum
- Basel artists' masks 1925–1984 (Eidenbenz-Tschudin collection)
- Free admission, museum shop and museum cellar
Permanent exhibitions
- Basler Künstlerlarven 1925–1984 – Collection of masks by around 50 well-known Basel artists, including designs, costumes and a mask workshop – housed in the carnival attic.
- Binninger Stecknadelfabrik 1943–1991 – The complete production plant of Switzerland's only pin factory was donated to the museum and rebuilt there.
- Zahnarztpraxis um 1930 – Complete historic dental practice with treatment chair, a treadle drill from 1925 and a rare X-ray machine from 1927 (on loan from a Binningen dentist family).
- Founded
- 1987
- Operated by
- Verein Ortsmuseum Binningen
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Registered group tour (up to 25 people) | CHF 90 |
|---|---|
| Registered tour for school classes from outside Binningen | CHF 20Binningen school classes free |
Museum admission is free, donations are welcome (also via TWINT).
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
The tram stops of line 2 and the bus stops of line 34 are near the post office and municipal administration, a short walk from the museum.
By car
Parking available
Parking is available at the post office and the municipal administration, less than a 5-minute walk from the museum.
Amenities & dining
- Museum shop
Museum shop on the ground floor (books, brochures, IRIS pins, cards); drinks are available in the museum cellar ("Museumsbeizli") during opening hours.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
- Corporate events
Up to 50 guests.
The museum cellar has room for around 45 place settings (maximum 50), with a kitchen (party service only), projector and screen, and a separate entrance from the courtyard; rented from 20 people, basic fee CHF 100 (waived for consumption over CHF 500), events end by 1 am at the latest.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Group tours (can be booked additionally at any time for 10 or more people, with an apéro on request) and school class tours after registration (school classes: schulklassen@ortsmuseum-binningen.ch). A 17-minute short film about pin production is available. |
