Museum of Science and Industry
The city’s largest museum is housed in the oldest surviving passenger railway station in the world. The Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester tells the story of Manchester as the world’s first industrial city and the north west as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. Exhibits are displayed in 5 buildings:
Main Building
This building houses the Special Exhibition Gallery that hosts touring exhibitions, Xperiment (an interactive science gallery), a textiles gallery featuring working machines, the Manchester Science gallery, a restaurant and museum shop.
1830s Warehouse
The Electricity Gallery shows how electricity has changed our lives. Exhibits include electric shock machines and examples of kitchens and living rooms of the 1930s and 1950s. Also on display is a replica of ‘The Baby’. Built and designed at the University of Manchester, this was the first computer in the world that could store data and programs.
Power Hall
This building is perhaps the most interesting and is home to locomotives, rolling stock and one of the largest collections of working steam engines in the world.
Air and Space Hall
Originally a market hall, this building is now home to a large collection of airplanes including a 1954 Avro Shackleton. Space memorabilia is displayed on the balcony.
Station Building
Exhibits here include the National Gas Gallery (check out the gas powered hair dryer) and Underground Manchester.
Admission to the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry is free. There’s a fee for the touring exhibitions in the Main Building.
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