If the plans from the 1960s—when the Zollern Coal Mine had just been shut down—had been carried out, an expressway would be running through that site today, and this extraordinary industrial monument would no longer exist. Fortunately, a number of citizens at the time campaigned to preserve this aesthetically striking structure of steel and glass, thereby marking the beginning of industrial heritage preservation in the Ruhr region.
The Zollern Coal Mine was certainly worth preserving: Behind the magnificent brick facades and the Art Nouveau portal, the mine itself is at first only hinted at. And this was precisely part of the architectural vision for the coal mine in western Dortmund, which was intended to become a showcase project. However, the so-called “Castle of Labor” resembles a noble residence only on the outside. Coal has been mined behind its impressive walls since 1898.
Lamp Room and Wash Room
The exhibitions housed in today’s LWL Museum on the site of the former coal mine, however, are not only dedicated to the splendor and ceremonial culture of the coal mines; above all, they tell visitors about the work processes that lay behind the beautiful facade.
In the various exhibition rooms, such as the lamp room or the washhouse, visitors learn a great deal about the working conditions of the time, which the museum vividly illustrates through the life stories of both women and men. The museum does not romanticize industrial culture but realistically explains how hard life could be for coal miners and their families back then, as well as the dangers associated with the work.
Industrial Culture for Children
The museum at the Zollern Coal Mine sees itself as a museum of the social and cultural history of mining in the Ruhr region and also regularly hosts special exhibitions. It is part of the European Route of Industrial Heritage and thus ranks among the most important sites of industrial heritage that history enthusiasts should visit.
The Zollern Coal Mine also has plenty to offer children: Franz, the young miner, guides young guests on a child-friendly tour through the museum. In the “Underground Experience” room, children can explore the underground world with all their senses, and outside, a playground invites the very youngest to climb and slide on the play-mine-tower.
