MUSEUM ASSOCIATION
Located in the heart of Austria, in Hochsteiermark, the Styrian Iron Road with its length of approximately 100 kilometres offers an exciting time travel through past and present of mining and the converting process of iron and steel.
Over 10 years ago the decision was made to unite 12 museums along the Iron Road and built an alliance.
This idea turned out to be very constructive and successful during the last years and directed – thanks to
subsidies of EU means – to extensive modernisations in the museums. These networks lead to a quality
intensification in the attending museums and museum-like facilities. The co-marketing comprises events
like „Museum sehen“, strengthening the image of the museums and bringing the interesting montane historic
past closer to the visitors. The idea of networking will play an important role in the upcoming years.
Behind the scenes we are working on common projects aiming comprehensive synopsis.
In questions of museum educational services the Museum Association and the Tourism Association
Hochsteiermark have become important partners. Continuously new offers for school classes , making a visit of the Styrian Iron Road to a great and unforgettable adventure, are developed.
Today we can look back to exciting years, in which all museums of the association have taken position. The hope remains that the coming years are characterised of boundless energy and engagement. Nationwide the
Museum Association Styrian Iron Road is seen as a showcase project. This is confirmed by the integration
in many transnational projects.
For the next years the Museum Association is aiming to develop the museums along the Styrian Iron Road
together with the persons in charge to offer locals and guests an attractive and interesting choice.
Focused on the topic „Rails into the past“ the visitor can go on a journey from the present back into the
past in the modernly equipped Museumscenter. The MuseumsCenter offers a clear architectural structure, a
symbiosis of the historical walls of the former Jesuits monastary and the architecture of the 20th
Century. New Media and unique objects make the visit to a special event. Handcraft and trade, the social-
and economical history and early history, only to name single topics merging the city and making it alive. To complete the programme, workshops for children and teenagers are offered. 
What is it that makes Austria's best beer unique, how Gösser became to one of the largest brands offer the
last decades and how Gösser beer is actually brewed, can be explored at the brewery museum Göss.. Since
2014 the museum convinces with interactive attractions, making a visit to a fascinating experience.
Together with technical and creative experts of the Ars Electronica Futurelab Linz the brewery museum was
enlarged by new attractions and edited interactively. The history of Austria's best beer becomes alive and a unique experience for the visitor. 
In the 125 year old and due to its architectonical contruction remarkable barn large objects are
exposed, i.e. treshing machines, different scythes, sickles and flails and hay-, milk-, and coal
cribs. The equipment is embedded in a breathtaking building of glass and wood. The visitors do not
only learn about the exhibited machines, but also about the people behind it, their lives and their
work. All about the history of the population of Kammern can be seen in the adjoining building, the
Steinrisserhaus. Here you can be delivered insight into the development of Kammern and shows its
important role in the production of raw materials. The museum courtyard is completed with an
exhibition of 500 million years of Earth history. 500 fossils reflect the development of life, our
evolution, on our planet. 
Soon after the closedown in 1911 the Radwerk (water wheel) was declared a historic monument and in 1959 it became a museum. Here the development of the exploitation of iron, the mining methods at Erzberg and the
ore mining systems to Vordernberg are connected to an impressing experience. The production process from
ore to iron in former times are described clearly during a walk through the huge rooms, built around the
furnace on four floors. You can take a look insight the tremendous oven and have a feeling for the
effusion and the solidification of iron ore in the tapping hall. The big water wheel, powering the air
blower for the combustion air and name giver of the ironwork, will be demonstrated. The current steel
production will be shown in the multi media presentation FERRUM MAGNIFICUM. 
The representative councillor hall of 1583 and the former carcer bring out this part of history and all
its facettes. During a walk through the three floors of the old town hall the rich past of Eisenerz
becomes alive. The main topic is the changeful relationship between the Styrian Erzberg and the city of
Eisenerz. Unique items like valuable aragonites and minerals, the Wunderstufe and other rarities of the
mining and historical culture, like the puppet theatre of Tendler, demonstrate this relationship very
clearly. Supported by movies you will get a comprehensive idea of the development of the city where
history was in the making.
Not only stamp collectors and friends of the postal history, also all kinds of cultural interested parties get their's money's worth.
The museum conveys, realistic and interactive, the development of the post- and telegraph system from the imperial age to today.
Numerous originals, such as an accessible and walkable stagecoach,
an original k.k. Post office from the 19th century, posthistorical
documents, mailboxes from all over the world and much more get the visitors to past times.
At the children's post office our younger museum visitors could actively deal with letters and telephones and so they can understand what life was far away from internet and mobile phones.
In the nostalgic post-cinema films document the
history of the Austrian postal- and telegraph system
over the last 100 years.
Always changing special exhibitions all around the history of communication and the
social developments complete the exhibition offer.
Altogether at 60 mining excavations up to 700 minors were employed with copper ore winning. In 1996 some
mining fans stared to reactivate the „Alten Paradeisstollen“, which was shutdown in 1800. Countless hours
of work of volunteers were needed to extract 3000t of rocks without the usage of machines. Additionally a
second exit has to be built due to safety reasons. A wide gallery consisting of routes, tunnels and
excavations in its nativeness was opened to the public. Many visitors think it is one of the most
beautiful showmines in Austria. For eight visitors an own tour guide is provided and a very personal
experience is guaranteed. A special highlight is a ride with the smallest tunnel train of Austria.
These subjects are presented in a multemedia-based and interactive way. The museum of local history mainly deals with the Innerberger Hauptgewerkschaft, a trade union managing a considerable charcoal production
for the iron industry in Wildalpen between 1625 and 1838.
In the 17th century an iron foundry was located in Gusswerk, famous for its production of cannon, naval
gunnery, machine parts but also for commodities after its development in 1742. In the museum there can
also be seen a show foundry, where commodities are produced following ancient techniques. 
