Erdölmuseum Reinkenhagen, museum in Germany
Erdölmuseum Reinkenhagen is a museum in Sundhagen dedicated to oil and gas extraction history in the region. It displays core samples from deep wells, drilling tools, and historic equipment both indoors and throughout an extensive outdoor area featuring original machinery and pipeline segments.
The first successful oil well in Reinkenhagen was drilled in 1961, marking the start of the region's oil industry. The museum was established in 1994 to preserve this history, which remained active in the area until 2001 and created significant employment.
The museum tells the story of how oil workers from different countries came to the region and shaped community life. Their uniforms, badges, and personal stories show how the oil industry became woven into local traditions and celebrations over time.
The museum spans a large grounds with indoor exhibits and an outdoor area featuring machinery, accessible most of the year except for a winter closure from December to February. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended since much of the site requires exploring the equipment and displays on foot.
A distinctive feature is the Oil Road trail with display stations positioned along main routes connecting nearby towns to the museum, featuring drilling rig models and historical photographs. These outdoor stations are scattered across the landscape and allow visitors to trace oil extraction history across the entire region.
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