Tekniska Museet

Useful Information

Location:	Museivägen 7, Stockholm
Open:	All year Mon-Tue 10-17, Wed 10-20, Thu-Fri 10-17, Sat-Sun 11-17. [2007]
Fee:	Adults SEK 60, Children (6-19) SEK 30, Children (0-5) free, Students SEK 30, National Service SEK 30, Seniors SEK 40, unemployed SEK 40, Family (2+*) SEK 120. Wed 17-20 free, Stockholm Card free, Cultural Heritage Card 50% discount. Groups (10+): Adults SEK 50, Children (6-19) SEK 10. [2007]
Classification:	Mining exhibition
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:
Guided tours:
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Tekniska Museet, The National Museum of Science and Technology, Museivägen 7, Box 27842, S-115 93 Stockholm, Tel: +46-8-4505600, Fax: +46-8-4505601. E-mail: Lars Paulsson, Tel +46-8-4505681.
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History

Description

The Tekniska Museet (National Museum of Science and Technology) is located in the Swedish Capital Stockholm. Beneath many other interesting exhibits it also has a interesting mining exhibition. The mine entrance is located in a corner of the Machine Hall. What follows is a sort of replica mine with real life figures showing scenes of the daily life of miners. This is not a single mine or a certain time, but a crossection through history and different mine types.

The oldest known mines of Sweden are from the 13th century. There may have been earlier mines or mining, but so far no remains or documents have been discovered. But since the Middle Ages, the mining has always been the economic backbone of the country. Many wars of Sweden, like the involvement in the 30 years war, were finance by the mining industry. The most important ores were the iron and copper ores, the single most important mine was Falu copper mine.

The mine is entered through a mine shaft, going down a wooden staircase. There is also a mine elevator which may be used, but it is operated by museum staff by request. The shaft has ladders, hoist, and water pumps, and is shored up with timber logs. The first section shows early mining, with open light sources and mining by lighting a fire. The heated ore was then cooled by a bucket of water and cracked. The loose ore could be removed and carried out in barrows and carts. The mining with explosives, starting with gunpowder in the 17th century, is explained in the part of the mine. In the 19th century nitro glycerine and later dynamite were used. The main work for the miner was the drilling of holes, first by hand, later by pneumatic drills. The mine ends in the modern control room of a 20th century LKAB mine. Remote controll of heavy mining machinery and fully automatic loading machines, trains and drilling machines are used in the iron mine at Kiruna.

The replica mine ius completed by related exhibition, especially the Ferrum exhibition, showing the iron and steel related technologies. It explains the technology of furnaces and difference between pig iron and bar iron. Again the exhibition ends with modern day technology, with steel production.