Heimatmuseum Rohrbach

In 1966, Rohrbach celebrated its 1200th anniversary. This sparked a desire to preserve the past. The Heimatmuseum Rohrbach was born from this desire. The Stadtteilverein chairman, Karl Heinz Frauenfeld, envisioned a “Heimatstube” in the old town hall. He asked residents for donations of old household items, tools, and farming implements. The response was overwhelming. After an initial exhibition, it was clear a small room wouldn’t suffice. Three rooms on the ground floor of the town hall were transformed into a small museum. The Heimatmuseum Rohrbach officially opened on July 23, 1971. The museum’s popularity soared. Exhibits like the “Traitteur’sche Wasserleitung,” the “Rohrbacher Schlösschen,” and the “Eichendorff-Romanze” attracted visitors from afar. Press and radio boosted the museum’s profile. In 1981, it joined the prestigious “Literary Museums of Baden-Württemberg.” In 1994, the museum faced a crisis. The city needed the space for a citizen’s office. After negotiations, a new location was found at Rathausstraße 76. This was the former “Café Berg” and Gröschl bakery. The museum closed for over a year for renovations. Six rooms needed work. The prospect of a bigger, better museum motivated everyone. The expanded Heimatmuseum Rohrbach reopened on March 30, 1996. Later, the rear building was also renovated. Three more exhibition rooms were added upstairs. The cellar became a winemaking exhibit. The museum now boasts ten exhibition rooms, a workshop, and an archive. A team of volunteers meets weekly to maintain the museum. New volunteers are always welcome. In July 2021, the museum celebrated its 50th anniversary. A brochure detailing the museum’s history was published for the occasion. The Heimatmuseum Rohrbach is open the first Sunday of each month. It’s also open by appointment for schools, clubs, and private groups. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated. Every year, the museum hosts a festival on the first weekend of June. All rooms are open, and food and drinks are served.