Museum

Archaeology and Museum Baselland

Switzerland

Archaeology and Museum Baselland is a museum. 122 works from its collection are in this catalog, including Emil Himmelsbach and Max Rickenbacher-Hufschmid.

About Archaeology and Museum Baselland

Identity & Mission

Museum.BL serves as the official cantonal museum of the Canton of Basel-Landschaft in Switzerland. Located in the historic old town of Liestal, it functions as a thematic museum that bridges the gap between the past and present, as well as the local and the global. The institution integrates natural sciences and cultural history, presenting itself as an open forum for critical engagement with environmental, historical, and contemporary issues.

It operates in close collaboration with Archaeology Baselland, a state agency responsible for securing and interpreting the region's archaeological heritage, forming a unified cultural entity.

Building & Architecture

The museum is housed in the 'Altes Zeughaus' (Old Arsenal), a prominent landmark in Liestal's old town. The building was originally constructed between 1518 and 1523 as a granary (Kornhaus) and later served as an arsenal (Zeughaus). It is a freestanding structure that dominates a key part of the historic city center, located within the old city fortifications.

The architecture features characteristic Renaissance elements, including keystones over the portals. The building underwent a major renovation project between 1977 and 1981 to adapt it for modern museum use while preserving its historical integrity.

Collection Highlights & Notable Holdings

Together with Archaeology Baselland, the museum holds a vast collection of over two million original items spanning natural science, archaeology, ethnology, art, and photography. A major highlight is the permanent exhibition dedicated to the silk ribbon industry, specifically the Hanro Collection, which documents the region's most important historical industry. The museum also features extensive displays on local nature, landscape, and urban life.

The collection is managed to be accessible and understandable, with a significant portion presented in rotating special exhibitions that address current themes.

Significance & Role

Museum.BL is significant as the primary cultural institution for the Canton of Basel-Landschaft, offering a unique synthesis of natural and cultural sciences. It is known beyond regional borders for its modern, interactive approach to exhibition design, which actively engages children, adolescents, and school groups. By linking the region's rich archaeological and industrial past with contemporary global issues, it serves as an educational hub and a living forum for public discourse.

The museum's location in a historically significant building further enhances its role as a guardian of the canton's architectural and cultural memory.

What to see at Archaeology and Museum Baselland

Start with Modeskizze by Emil Himmelsbach.

See all highlights at Archaeology and Museum Baselland →

Works from Archaeology and Museum Baselland

All 122 works →

What's on

Fix it! Vom Glück des Reparierens
5 Jan 2025 – 30 Aug 2026
Die Ausstellung im Museum.BL, in der du in die Kulturgeschichte des Reparierens eintauchst und lernst, wie du Gegenständen ein zweites Leben schenkst – Glücksgefühle garantiert.…
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