Remember streetlights flickering to life at dusk? That innovation was fueled by places like the Gaswerksmuseum Augsburg. Here stands a monument to a pivotal moment in Augsburg’s history. This Gaswerksmuseum Augsburg tells the story of how the city was illuminated and powered.
Let’s step back to the late 19th century. Augsburg was growing and modernizing. Gas streetlights replaced oil lamps. This required a central gas production facility. Thus, the Gaswerk Augsburg was born. It began operations in Oberhausen in 1915.
The Gaswerksmuseum Augsburg site is impressive. The buildings survived World War II unscathed. They stand today as protected monuments. The site includes the oven house and the tank tower. There are also structures for byproducts like tar and ammonia. You’ll see the electric center and the workshop wing. Don’t miss the vacuum building and the cleaning building. There are also residential buildings for officials and employees. Two telescopic gas tanks and the 1954 disc gas tank also stand here. The latter is also known as the gas kettle.
The Gaswerksmuseum Augsburg covers eight hectares. It has a park-like character. The site is a European landmark and unique in Bavaria. Almost all buildings are preserved. Two different types of gas tanks are on display. These are telescopic and disc gas tanks. The shell of the first disc gas tank from MAN is still here. It was built in 1914 and 1915. This makes it a pioneering structure.
Before this central plant, Augsburg had two private gas works. The first opened in 1848. It supplied gas for street lighting. Augsburg was the second city in Bavaria with a gas plant after Nuremberg. The city acquired these private plants in 1907. They were replaced by this new Gaswerk in 1915.
The Gaswerksmuseum Augsburg’s gas tank had a volume of 1,600 cubic meters. It was the first disc gas tank sold worldwide by MAN-Werk Gustavsburg. The Gaswerk Augsburg itself was untouched during World War II. In 1954, MAN built the Gaskessel. This is the highly visible disc gas tank next to the older telescopic tanks. Until 1968, the Gaswerksmuseum Augsburg produced city gas from coal. This gas supplied homes and businesses in Augsburg and Kaufbeuren.
From 1963 to 1978, a natural gas cracking plant converted natural gas into city gas. In 1978, Augsburg switched completely to natural gas. Until 2001, the gas tanks stored peak gas. The Gaswerksmuseum Augsburg has been shut down since 2001. It belongs to the Augsburg public utilities.
The Gaswerksmuseum Augsburg is home to the former electrical center. Here you can find an exhibition about the history of Augsburg’s gas supply. The museum displays MAN diesel engines from 1918 and 1958. The 700 hp six-cylinder MAN “oil machine” from 1918 is also here. It is a protected monument. Next to it stands the 1958 16-cylinder diesel engine with 1900 hp.
Augsburg’s gas supply history began with gas street lighting in 1848. The Gaswerksmuseum Augsburg also exhibits old Augsburg gas street lamps. Since 2008, 11 gas lamps have been operating again on the Gaswerk Augsburg grounds. The Gaswerksmuseum Augsburg also contains gas household appliances. You’ll see gas cookers and gas refrigerators. There is also a gas washing machine. The museum has over 600 books and brochures on gas supply. You can also view the original contract for lighting Augsburg with gas.
The Gaswerksmuseum Augsburg welcomes visitors. Explore the buildings. Learn about the gas production process. Imagine the workers who kept the city illuminated. Take a tour to see the historical exhibits. They offer a glimpse into Augsburg’s industrial past. The Gaswerksmuseum Augsburg offers a unique look at the city’s energy history. It connects Augsburg’s past with today’s world.