Housed in old smelting works, which were central to Røros' raison d'être until 1953, this museum is a town highlight. The building was reconstructed in 1988 according to the original 17th-century plan. Inside you'll discover a large balance used for weighing ore, some well-illustrated early mining statistics, and brilliant working models of the mines and the water- and horse-powered smelting processes. Displays of copper smelting are held at 3pm Tuesday to Friday from early July to early August.
Outside the museum entrance spreads the large open area known as the Malmplassen (Ore Place) , where loads of ore were dumped and weighed on the large wooden scale. Just across the stream from the museum are the protected Slegghaugen (slag heaps), from which there are lovely views over town. Off the southwestern corner of the slag heaps, the historic smelting district with its tiny turf-roofed miners' cottages , particularly along Sleggveien , is one of Røros' prettiest corners.
