Mining milieu du XVIIIe siècle - 1958 (≈ 1850)
Ronchamp Mine Activity Period.
1946
Nationalization
Nationalization 1946 (≈ 1946)
The coal companies are moving to Électricité de France.
26 septembre 1976
Opening of the museum
Opening of the museum 26 septembre 1976 (≈ 1976)
Opening by Marcel Maulini under the name "Maison de la mine".
1991
Municipal acquisition
Municipal acquisition 1991 (≈ 1991)
The museum is bought by Ronchamp.
1994
Creation of the MAH
Creation of the MAH 1994 (≈ 1994)
Association of friends of the museum of the founded mine.
2009
Waiver of donation clauses
Waiver of donation clauses 2009 (≈ 2009)
Change in authorized collection.
2017
Acquisition of the Maulini house
Acquisition of the Maulini house 2017 (≈ 2017)
Project to expand the museum.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Marcel Maulini - Founder of the museum and doctor
Creator of the museum, former coal doctor.
Paul Combert - Architect
Designed the plans of the museum.
Origin and history
The Marcel Maulini mine museum, located in Ronchamp in Haute-Saône, is dedicated to the history of the local coal basin. Founded in 1976 by Dr. Marcel Maulini, a coal doctor, he maintains a rich collection of tools, miners' lamps, photographs and documents of the time. This evidence shows the working conditions of minors, their daily lives and Polish immigration linked to mining. The museum, originally private, was purchased by the municipality in 1991 and joined the Engrenages network in 1992.
Mining at Ronchamp and Champagney extends from the 18th century to 1958, when the wells were finally closed. This mining past has marked the landscape with its burrows, workers' towns and wells, while influencing the local economy and demography, notably by the arrival of Polish miners. After the nationalization of coal mining in 1946, the deposit was managed by Électricité de France until the cessation of activity in 1958.
The museum is organized on three levels: the ground floor displays tools, lamps and everyday objects, while the first floor deals with silicosis, Dr Maulini's research and Polish immigration. The second floor, not accessible to the public, houses archives. An expansion project, including Marcel Maulini's old house, is underway to modernize the spaces and attract more visitors, with a target of 10,000 annual admissions.
Prior to its creation, Marcel Maulini had planned to install the museum in the straddling of the Sainte-Marie well in 1972, but the project failed. He then built the present museum on his own, according to the plans of architect Paul Combert. In 2017, the municipality acquired its adjacent home to integrate it into the extension project. Since 2018, the museum and the house have been connected to the urban heat network powered by a wood boiler.
The Association of Friends of the Mining Museum (AMM), established in 1994, works to preserve the mining remains and conduct historical research. In 2009, the donation clauses of the collection were lifted, allowing its modification. The museum crossed the course of the 3,000 annual visitors in 2012, and the extension works, planned for the years 2020, aim to enrich the museum offering with temporary exhibitions and an interpretation centre.
