History of Astronomy : Museums and exhibits

Vermessungstechnisches Museum Dortmund

The Museum of Surveying Instruments (Vermessungstechnisches Museum) in Dortmund, in addition to exhibits from geodesy and cartography, is also showing pieces of interest for the history of astronomy: For example, theodolites, an astrolabium (origin and time unknown), an astronomical-geometrical quadrant (1619), an octant, a sextant, a Dutch circle (c. 1655) as well as the copy of a quadrant from 1669 in it's original size, and the recreation of a Jacob-Staff.

The museum is located in the Museum für Kunst und Kulturgeschichte Dortmund (Museum for the Art and Cultural History of Dortmund).

A short time ago, it became possible to bring the exhibits, which were not being shown in the museum, down to the newly renovated rooms of the former bunker "Am Westpark" in the Rittershausstrasse. The magazine of exhibits is accessible for the public, and should serve scientific research. In the same building there is also a special museum library.

Address of the museum:

Vermessungstechnisches Museum
Museum für Kunst und Kulturgeschichte Dortmund
Hansastrasse 3
D-44137 Dortmund

Opening hours: Tues - Sun 10 am - 6 pm
There is no entrance fee.

Address for information:

Tel. (0231) 50-22622 Herr Kioscha
            529 912  Herr Gombel

Catalogue: W. Kioscha (ed.): Museum für Kunst und Kulturgeschichte Dortmund, Museumshandbuch, Teil 2, Vermessungsgeschichte. 2. Aufl., Dortmund 1989, 224 pp., ISBN 3-924302-01-4, DM 59.00

[1] Catalogue
[2] Förderkreis Vermessungstechnisches Museum e.V., Nachrichten 2/1993 = Beilage der Zeitschrift AVN Allgemeine Vermessungs-Nachrichten 10/1993

Wolfgang R. Dick

Latest update: 28 Jan 1997