Manchester Science Museum, in abbreviation known also as MOSI, is by far one of the most interesting places to see in the city, not only if you are interested in technology. The museum focuses on the developement of science, technology and industry. It also aims to present not only the impact of those on the city but Manchester’s contributions to science and progress.
Manchester Science Museum largely covers such themes as transport with railway locomotives, aircraft and space vehicles on the display. It also focuses on power, sewerage and sanitation, textiles and the impact of the industrial revolution, communications and computing. What makes Manchester Science Museum different is that it offers its visitors steam train ride on a replica of an actual steam class locomotive.
Manchester Science Museum was originally called the “North Western Museum of Science and Industry”. It opened its doors in 1969 and nine years later it was moved to its current location near the Liverpool Road Station in Castlefield.
Some of the most notable objects on display include A complete RAF Avro Shackleton plane, which in fact was built locally, A Supermarine Spitfire plane and a Hawker Hunter.
This most excellent railway museum holds a replica of Erricson’s Novelty Locomotive with parts from the actual model from 1829 (which is also the model used for the steam train ride), A British Rail Class locomotive and a South African Railways GL Class one.
Manchester played a very important role during the industrial revolution, with its textile manufacturing industry and many of the objects from that era are on display in the museum. Specifically, the Power Hall presents many machines used during the industrial revolution while the Textiles Gallery presents how the industrial revolution affected the city and the trade.
For more computer oriented visitor, the Manchester Science Museum displays a replica of the Manchester Small-Scale Experimental Machine, the world’s first stored-program computer. Built in 1948 it was a test tube for one of the first prototypes of computer memory systems. It turned out to be the very first machine that contained all of the elements essential to a modern working computer, as we know them today.
A Connected Earth gallery showcases how communication developed in the region and how it affected the lives of the people from the North West of England.
The Electricity gallery will present you with the history of this power that we take so much for granted these days.
If however, you are a more photography oriented visitor, the Musuem has something special for you too. The collected cameras gallery explores 170 years of photography in Manchester. It tells the story how local people made and used cameras in the early days of this art.
A visit to the Manchester Science Museum is by far one of the highlights of a visit to the city. Not only you can discover about such topics as industrial revolution, technology and transport but also enjoy a steam train ride, something most museums will not deliver.
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