EXHIBITION: RYBNIK • THE PIT • THE SHIFT • THE DIG

The exhibition takes the form of a unique journey through the mine tunnels. It was here that miners worked every day in difficult and often dangerous conditions to extract hard coal, known as Silesian black gold, the foundation of Upper Silesia's economic and industrial prosperity.

The display covers the period from the late 18th century, through the 20th century, to the present day. This was a time of the birth and flourishing of the Industrial Revolution, with its modern engineering inventions: the steam engine and the electric motor. Their application allowed for increased coal mining, bringing about the dynamic development of heavy and extractive industries in the Rybnik region.

The title of the exhibition is formed of words from the Silesian dialect (godka): gruba (the pit), szychta (the shift), and fedrowanie (the dig/extraction), which are directly linked to mining traditions. These Silesian words demonstrate how the economy can shape the local language.

The display brings to life the history of mining in the region, the hardships and dangers of working in the pits, and the knowledge and skills of the mining trade. Visitors can symbolically descend to level -1, passing Achim, the pit foreman, in his ceremonial uniform, the token room with mining tokens  and the shola (lift). In the staged underground workings, we can see items related to mining education and a unique art form, namely sculptures in coal and slate.

The highlight of the exhibition is a mine heading with a fragment of a typical trackway with a tub filled with excavated material. Beside it, dressed in full working gear, is a miner named Alojz. Inside the heading, various types of small equipment related to underground work are presented, including blasting, rescue and measuring equipment.

The exhibition Rybnik • The Pit • The Shift • The Dig is a fine opportunity to explore the history, everyday life and mining traditions of Rybnik and the surrounding area. It highlights the vital importance that hard coal extraction has had, and continues to have, for the industry and development of the region.