“History is not as boring as some people think… or as some teachers make it” – this is how the chairman of Oberursel’s town parliament Dr. Christoph Müllerleile commented on the 25th anniversary of the Vortaunusmuseum on Saturday afternoon.
The museum, which was first opened in June 1987, had invited local dignitaries and friends of the museum to celebrate the anniversary in the Seifenkisten (soap box) area, with several making congratulatory speeches.
Renate Messer, who runs the museum, opened the proceedings before handing over to Landrat (District Administrator) Ulrich Krebs. He highlighted the unique local history that the area offers, such as the Oppidum Heidetränk celtic settlement and the Bommersheimer Burg – a castle that sadly no longer exists.
Oberursel’s Mayor Hans-Georg Brum highlighted the interest in such local museums, and in the feeling of “Heimat” in particular, in a World where everything seems to be closer together and long-established cultures and traditions begin to merge with each other.
He also pointed out that many people who have recently moved to Oberursel are interested in finding out more about the history of the area, something the museum helps them to do.
Dr. Müllerleile meanwhile said during his speech that the museum made the local history “accessible” to the public. “History has been written down for a long time, but exhibited history is something special” he commented. He called for more historic photos to be added to the archive by private people and for the town’s archive to digitalise them.
Finally it was the turn of Thomas Sterzel from the town’s marketing department to reminisce about his times working in the museum at the end of the 1980s, whilst pointing out that this year the Tourist Information Office moved into the building earlier this year, allowing the opening hours to be extended.
The museum, which is located at the upper end of the Marktplatz, not only has exhibits on the soap box races, but also on the castle in Bommersheim and about the various mills that were located along the Urselbach, including many of the original machinery which has been donated over the years. Some of the finds from the Celtic settlement near the Hohemark are also on display.
The museum is open Wednesdays between 10am and 5pm, Saturdays between 10am and 4pm and Sundays between 2pm and 5pm. Entry is free.
The tourist information office is open outside of these times Monday to Friday from 8am, closing Monday and Friday at 1pm, Tuesday and Thursday at 3pm.
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