Overview
At the foot of Mount Sodom, near the southern tip of the Dead Sea, a cluster of low buildings sits in the salt-white landscape. These are the remains of a workers’ camp that operated here from 1934, when industrial mineral extraction first came to the Dead Sea. The Moshe Novomeysky Visitor Center, which opened on December 1, 2021 at a cost of approximately NIS 50 million (\$16 million), transforms this site into an open-air museum dedicated to the Dead Sea’s industrial heritage.
The Moshe Novomeysky Visitor Center at Sodom is a \$16 million open-air museum occupying the 180,000 square meter site of the original 1934 Dead Sea workers' camp, telling the story of mineral extraction at approximately 430 meters below sea level through reconstructed buildings and virtual reality exhibits.
The Story: Moshe Novomeysky and the Dead Sea's Industrial Origins
Moshe Novomeysky was a mining engineer born in Siberia who first arrived at the Dead Sea’s shores in 1911. He recognized the commercial potential of the Dead Sea’s mineral deposits, particularly potash (potassium chloride), which was in global demand as a fertilizer. In 1929, Novomeysky established the Palestine Potash Company, winning the British Mandate government’s tender for mineral extraction rights.
The company built its first plant at Kalia on the northern Dead Sea shore, then expanded to a second facility at Sodom in the south. Workers lived in camps at both locations, enduring extreme conditions: summer temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius, no modern cooling, and near-total isolation.
The Sodom operation used solar evaporation to extract potash from Dead Sea brine, a method that continues today under ICL (formerly Israel Chemicals Ltd), the successor company that took over the franchise when the operation was privatized at the turn of the millennium.
What to See: The Visitor Experience
The guided tour begins in the Dead Sea Model Hall, which features a large-scale model illustrating the formation of the Dead Sea rift valley and the geological processes that created its mineral concentration.
Visitors then move through reconstructed camp buildings, including the workers’ dining room. Multimedia presentations introduce Novomeysky through archival footage and dramatic recreations.
The most distinctive feature is the virtual reality experience. Using VR headsets, visitors enter a recreated version of the workers’ camp at its peak occupancy, walking among laborers and experiencing the conditions of industrial life at the Dead Sea in the 1930s and 1940s.
The Novomeysky Visitor Center's virtual reality experience transports visitors into a recreation of the 1930s Dead Sea workers' camp, where laborers extracted potash under extreme desert conditions at the site that eventually became the foundation of Israel's multibillion-dollar mineral extraction industry.
How to Get There
The Novomeysky Visitor Center is located at Sodom, near the southern end of the Dead Sea, south of the Ein Bokek hotel zone. Access is via Route 90.
The drive from Ein Bokek takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes. From
Jerusalem, the drive is approximately 2 hours via Route 1 and Route 90.
Tips for Visitors
The tour is guided, so arriving at scheduled tour times is necessary. Allow approximately 60 to 90 minutes for the full experience. The site is primarily outdoors, so sun protection, water, and comfortable shoes are advised, especially during summer months.
The center’s VR experience adds a dimension that distinguishes this from typical museum visits. Families with older children (roughly 10+) will find the immersive technology engaging. Very young children may not fully appreciate the historical narrative.
FAQ SECTION
What is the Novomeysky Visitor Center?
The Moshe Novomeysky Visitor Center is an open-air museum at Sodom, near the southern tip of the Dead Sea. It tells the story of Dead Sea mineral extraction through reconstructed 1930s buildings, multimedia presentations, and virtual reality experiences. It cost approximately NIS 50 million (\$16 million) to build and opened on December 1, 2021.
Who was Moshe Novomeysky?
Moshe Novomeysky was a Siberian-born mining engineer who first visited the Dead Sea in 1911 and founded the Palestine Potash Company in 1929. His company established the first industrial mineral extraction operations at the Dead Sea, creating the foundation for what is now Israel’s ICL (Israel Chemicals Ltd).
Does the Novomeysky Visitor Center have virtual reality?
Yes. The visitor center features a VR experience that places visitors inside a recreation of the 1930s workers’ camp at its peak occupancy. Using VR headsets, visitors walk among laborers and experience the conditions of industrial life at the Dead Sea.
How do I get to the Novomeysky Visitor Center from Ein Bokek?
The visitor center at Sodom is approximately 15 to 20 minutes south of Ein Bokek by car along Route 90. From Jerusalem, the drive takes approximately 2 hours. Tours are guided, so check scheduled times before arrival.