Well museum (Orosháza)

The Orosháza Well Museum - Water Supply History Collection is a thematic museum in Hungary that uniquely at the national level presents the tools of water extraction of the past hundred years, from buckets to mechanical pumps.

Access

In Orosháza, at the corner of Könd and Táncsics streets, the small water tower is located, and the exhibition dealing with water management history is located on Tas Street. The museum is not far from the city centre and the water tower building is situated next to the Reformed Church.

History

The water tower that serves as the museum building was built in the 1930s and retained its original function until the 1970s. The then president of the Orosháza Local History Group, Sándor Kiss-Horváth, was the originator of the museum idea, who began studying the history of the Könd Street water tower with the group. Later, enough material had been gathered that he decided to establish a museum. Thus, in 1983, the idea was realized by the Local History Circle and with the professional support of the Hungarian Water Management Museum.

Initially, the tools needed for contemporary water extraction were exhibited in the fenced garden of the water tower. After the Békés County Waterworks Ltd. took over maintenance, the collection was expanded with further artifacts and in 2002 a exhibition hall was created on Tas Street, commemorating the history of the city's water supply.

In 2010 a change of maintenance occurred. The owner of the museum became the municipal government, and its operator became the Nagy Gyula Regional Museum.

In 2018 the well garden and the old wells were renovated.

In the 2000s the building twice received the Museum of the Year award.

From Dug Well to Water Tower

Written and pictorial documents concerning the various types of wells, as well as well accessories and equipment, are presented. In the well garden there is a metal well display and in the tower a cast‑iron pump well also awaits visitors.

Interesting Fact

The building appeared between 1990 and 1991 in the second episode of the educational program "Wheels and Steps" (The Southern Landscapes of the Tisza Region) broadcast by Hungarian Television.

Furthermore, it also appeared in the program guide of the broadcast of the show Ma Reggel on August 9, 2022, where the M1 crew reported live.