Posts filed in ‘Museum’
Wonders of the Solar System
Last year I have been to the exhibition at the Gasometer in Oberhausen. Seems to me and my wife that ‘gasometer’ is a British word which is used for large gas holders or gas tanks. The Gasometer in Oberhausen is no longer used as a gas tank but as an exhibition hall. Starting in 2009 the exhibition runs through this year – the year of the Ruhr being the Cultural Capital of Europe – the exhibition will end on December 30th.
At the desk inside the gasometer, there is a big poster advertising the audio guides. It is also available in English language. That’s the message for today.
The exhibition is really good. The large model of the moon installed inside is very impressive. The explainations next to the objects are good and as far as we remember some are in English as well. “Out of this World – Wonders of the Solar System” is worth a visit. A good suggestion for the next visit of my in-laws.
Exhibitions: Varus Battle 9 A.D.
Anno Domini 9 the the Varus Battle tor Battle of the Teutoburg Forest took place somewhere in the forest of the old Germans. The old Germans were a group of tribes living in an area namend Germania by the old Romans. At the climax of its power and culture the Roman empire tried to turn Germania into a new province. The Romans set up a fort in what is nowadys the town’ Haltern am See’ and so on. But suddenly the old German tribes show resistance. They ambushed the Romans and killed three of their legions.
“Varus, give me my legions back!” Emperor Augustus is said to have cried out, when the news reached him that more than 15.000 Roman soldiers had been lured into an ambush by Germanic tribesmen and had suffered a crushing defeat.
The Emperor and the whole of Rome were shocked. The superpower Rome had lost three of its best legions and had suffered one of the greatest defeats of its history. The plans to set up a province east of the Rhine had been foiled.
(from: Imperium Myth Conflict, webpage of the exhibitions)
Why should people who want to learn about (nowadays) German culture visit the exhibition? Expecially Lemgo is important for understandig German history of the last two hundred years or more. The story of Hermann was used for nation buildung – and misued. Political usage of the story starts after the middle ages. The “general” how defeated the Romans was an old German. Only his latin name is know – Arminus. The German name Hermann was given to him by protestant reformer Martin Luther.
The Roman Museum in Haltern, the Museum in Detmold where the Herman Monument resides and in Kalkries where the battlefield might have been cooperated in a series of three exhibitions titeld Imperium – Myth – Conflict.
Recently, I went to Lemgo an saw ‘Myth’. It was very impressive and interesting. Well, I am political scientist and therefore it was interesting to see how the Hermann-story was used through the centuries by political acteurs. I noticed that the exhibition has English language audio guides.
Today, we went to Haltern am See to see the part of the exhibition “Imperium” in the Roman Museum. This is a permanent institution. Additionally, there is an exhibition set up in the town hall (lake hall) that treats the Roman Empire. The Roman Museum focusses transport and logistics of the Roman legions and the remains found by archaeologists.
Anyway, you can visit the exhibitions as an English language activity. Just ask for the English language audio guide. In Haltern am See they offere machines from Tonwelt.com where you enter number which are close to the objects of the exhibition. Calculate two hours for the museum in Lemgo, an hour for the part of the exhibition in the Roman Museum.
Haltern am See is situated in the north of the Metropolis Ruhr, Lemgo is two hours drive – train or car – to the East and Kalkriese is north of Metropolis Ruhr in Lower Saxony.
Dissappointed at German Mining Museum
Today we went to the German Mining Museum (english page of Deutsche Bergbaumuseum) in Bochum with my parents-in law – finally. I was told that they offer an English tour. Well, it’s not an audio guide. At several place in the replica mine, they installed recordings in German and English language that explain the exhibition. Here is a picture one of the machines:
information box - German and English
Well, the whole thing wasn’t very satisfying. There are two problems: The information boxes seems to be the only English language offer. There are only a few boxes and the texts are two long. It would be nicer to offer shorter – more condensed – text at more places. The exhibition halls outside the replica mine lack English language at all. When I think of the developing metropolis and being European Capital of Culture, I expect an English audio tour for the museum.
During the week, the museum offers a lot of guided tour – not on the week-end. Therefore, I think the information boxes are not really necessary for German visitors and the museum doesn’t need a German audio guide. But they should add something in English.
For now, if you want to visit the mining museum with an English language group you have to book an English tour guide. Else you’ll should go there with someone who knows about mining or did the German tour. This person can add and explain additional things to the English vistors – as well as translating German explainations. Helpful might be to go through the English website of the Bergbaumiseum. In Museum->Replica Mine you’ll find pictures of several items and English descriptions.
Anyway, I learnd and refreshed English vocabulary on mining terms.
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