The Uhlenköpfe (380 m above sea level) lie high above the Uhlenbach valley in Silberhütte.
Prince Wilhelm von Anhalt Bernburg established the Harzgerode silver smelter in 1693 to smelt the ore mined in the nearby area. The first settlements of workers in the village of the same name were only established at the beginning of the 19th century after the smelting works had been fundamentally renovated and rebuilt.
In addition to silver, the only gold found in the Harz Mountains to date was smelted here in 1825, as well as selenium, a material that was only of scientific interest at the time. The smelter was closed in 1909.
The former smelter site was taken over by wood processing companies, which initially also used the water power of the Selke to drive a wide variety of machines. After their closure in 1990, the Unterharzer Waldhof was established on part of the site. The Waldhof offers experiential education in the fields of forestry, nature conservation and environmental protection, as well as mining and metallurgy. A playground is located right next to the parking lot and is open to the public.
Founded in 1790, the powder factory developed very successfully from a manufacturer of black powder and fireworks to a manufacturer of lighting and signaling devices.
From the parking lot, follow the Selketalstieg trail steadily uphill and then take a forest path to the stamping point, from where you have a surprisingly good view of the Brocken in good weather.
