Ortsmuseum Frenkendorf

About the museum

The current local museum is the "Alte Arzthaus" (old doctor's house) of Frenkendorf, which the doctor's family Meyer had built in 1894 in the middle of a large park. Until 1971 the villa served the village doctor as a practice and residence. When a secondary school was built nearby, the canton acquired the building in 1961 through the Kantonalbank; in 1977 it handed it over to the Verkehrs- und Verschönerungsverein (VVF, traffic and beautification association) for a local museum.

The VVF had already begun collecting old objects in the village in 1958, before outside collectors removed much of it. After a year of conversion work and a great deal of voluntary effort, the museum opened on November 4, 1978. The rooms are arranged by theme: household, agricultural and craft tools, church objects, as well as uniforms, military equipment and pictures. Because of this variety, the museum was admitted to the Verband der Museen der Schweiz (Association of Swiss Museums).

The collection extends from the vaulted cellar to the roof, where the association's corners are also housed. Also on view are Baselbieter costumes (traditional dress of Basel-Country), a Frenkendorf room, finds from the castle ruins of Alt and Neu Schauenburg, historic village photos and a ribbon loom that is shown in operation and weaves ribbons with the municipal coat of arms. The VVF still runs the museum today.

Highlights

• Former doctor's villa from 1894 with a local collection from cellar to attic
• Ribbon loom in operation with a punch card program
• Baselbieter costumes and a Frenkendorf room
• Finds from the Alt and Neu Schauenburg castle ruins
• Old photos of Frenkendorf

Permanent exhibitions

• Ortsgeschichtliche Dauerausstellung – Household and agricultural equipment, craft tools, Baselbieter costumes, a Frenkendorf room and old village photos, from the vaulted cellar to the attic.
• Schauenburgflue und Burgruinen – Finds from the Alt and Neu Schauenburg ruins and an exhibition on the historic Schauenburgflue cliff as inspiration for a hike.

Founded

1978

Operated by

Verkehrs- und Verschönerungsverein Frenkendorf (VVF)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free; donations are welcome.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

• Kids’ birthday parties

Birthday parties at the museum can be requested through the association's inquiry form.

Getting there & parking

The museum is located in the Old Doctor's House on the Mühlacker school grounds (Schulstrasse 10a).

Amenities & dining

• Café

On opening Sundays there is an apéro in the morning and coffee and cake in the afternoon.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties

On request the association organizes apéros, apéros with a guided tour and birthday parties in the museum (inquiry form on the website).

Plan your visit