Mining shaped the Ruhr region. The Bergbau-Ausstellung Herberholz stands as a testament to this legacy. It whispers tales of sweat, grit, and the relentless pursuit of coal. The Bergbau-Ausstellung Herberholz isn’t just a collection of old machinery. It’s a portal to the past. It offers a glimpse into the lives of the men who toiled underground.
The Bergbau-Ausstellung Herberholz sits on the grounds of the former Zeche Herberholz colliery. This colliery itself emerged from the union of several smaller mines. These included Neuglück & Stettin, Stralsund, Hazard, St Johannes Nr. 4, Kleist, Österbank, Nelkenthal, Vereinigte Ankunft & Anclam, Rabener, and Muttental. They united in 1854 under the name Zeche Herberholz. The driving force behind this consolidation was Obersteiger Herberholz, whose name the new colliery bore. They needed a deeper, unified shaft to access the coal seams below the St. Johannes Erbstollen.
The Bergbau-Ausstellung Herberholz showcases the ingenuity of these early miners. The colliery used horses to transport coal underground to the nearby Zeche Vereinigte Louisenglück. There, it was brought to the surface via the Elisabeth shaft. The output fluctuated over the years. In 1857, just 13 miners extracted 5182 Prussian tons of coal. By 1859, production jumped to 67,818 Prussian tons with 75 miners. The peak year was 1882, with 91 miners extracting 37,110 tons. However, the Zeche Herberholz faced a persistent challenge: water. The influx of groundwater was so significant that the pumps at the Elisabeth shaft struggled to keep up. This, combined with dwindling coal reserves, led to the colliery’s closure in 1885.
Today, the Bergbau-Ausstellung Herberholz preserves this rich history. The Zechenhaus Herberholz, built around 1875, served as the operational building for both Herberholz and Louisenglück. It houses a small mining history exhibition. Imagine miners descending into the 20-meter-deep Schacht Constanz on the premises. They used a simple windlass to bring coal to the surface. Now, visitors can stroll the same grounds, absorbing the stories of the past. The Förderverein Bergbauhistorischer Stätten Ruhrrevier maintains the Bergbau-Ausstellung Herberholz. Their work ensures that this vital piece of Ruhr history remains accessible to future generations. The Bergbau-Ausstellung Herberholz isn’t just a museum. It’s a living memory. It’s a tribute to the men who powered the industrial heart of Germany.