Ruhr Museum

Profile

The Ruhr Museum is located in the former Coal Washing Plant of the Zollverein Coal Mine, Shaft XII in Essen, Germany. It has existed since 01.01.2008 as a dependent foundation within the Zollverein Foundation funded by the Federal State of North-Rhine Westphalia, the Rhineland Regional Council (Landschaftsverband Rheinland; LVR) and the city of Essen. As a unique type of regional museum it showcases the entire natural and cultural history of the Ruhrgebiet in its permanent exhibition. It is not a traditional industrial museum, but presents itself as the memory of and a window for the new Ruhr Metropolis.

The Ruhr Museum has extensive collections on the geology, archaeology, history and photography of the Ruhrgebiet, consisting mainly of artefacts from the collections of the former Ruhrlandmuseum. The collections are continuously being enhanced, in particular with additional regional material. In addition to the permanent exhibition on the Ruhrgebiet past and present, the Ruhr Museum regularly creates special exhibitions, including exhibitions which do not necessarily refer to the Ruhr Area. It combines its extensive exhibition and event programme with the Denkmalpfad (Zollverein Heritage Trail), the Route Industriekultur (The Route of Industrial Heritage) and the Portal der Industriekultur (Portal of Industrial Heritage) in the Coal Washing Plant. The museum focuses on the two main cultural tasks of education and tourism, particularly with regard to the European Capital of Culture RUHR.2010.

represented artists

Bernd & Hilla Becher      Ruth Hallensleben      Marga Kingler      Peter Kleu      Brigitte Kraemer      Timm Rautert      Albert Renger-Patzsch      Joachim Schumacher

Josef Stoffels      Thomas Struth      Anton Tripp      Manfred Vollmer      Ludwig Windstosser      Michael Wolf