Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Chemical Museum, located in Jarrie in Isère, is a space dedicated to the history and techniques of chemistry, a major industrial sector for the Grenoble region. Located in the building also housing the town hall, it occupies the former property of the Jouvin family, surrounded by the park of Clos Jouvin, designed around 1880 by landscape architect Gabriel Luizet. This park, now classified, adds a heritage dimension to the place, combining industrial history and architectural heritage.

The local chemical industry developed in 1915 to meet the military needs of the First World War, including the production of chlorine against German combat gases. After 1918, this industry diversified into civilian applications, such as innovative materials, hygiene and health products, called "useful chlorine". The following decades saw the rise of chemical platforms, notably in Pont-de-Claix and Jarrie, fed by high-grade gem salt mines and water pipes. This pole flourished until the 1973 oil shock, marking the beginning of its decline.

The museum was founded in 1987 thanks to the Association of Friends of the Museum of Chemistry, created in 1982 by former employees of the Péchiney Ugine Kuhlmann factory, the mayor of Jarrie Roger Bayle, and René Romano. Originally installed in the cellars of the Jouvin residence, it was municipalized in 2007 to sustain its collections. After a major renovation in 2014, it reopened with a modernized course, including interactive demonstrations and temporary exhibitions, such as When Chemistry Lights Us (2021-2023), exploring the links between chemistry and lighting.

The museum houses remarkable scientific objects, such as samples of metallic borides created in 1929 by Professor Lucien Andrieux, future director of the Institute of Electrochemistry in Grenoble. Its permanent exhibitions trace the evolution of chemistry from antiquity to the 21st century, with a focus on local applications, such as the manufacture of synthetic stones or the use of chlorine in the nuclear industry. Educational workshops, led by stakeholders such as Karine Godot de Sciences and Malice, complement the offer for young audiences.

Although currently closed indefinitely, the museum remains a key testimony to the region's industrial heritage. His journey highlights major innovations, such as fuel cells or polymers, while questioning contemporary issues, such as the energy transition or the ecological impact of chemical technologies. The collections and the activities of scientific mediation make it a unique place of transmission between industrial past and future challenges.

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