Manchester is draped in a rich history that even the Oxbridge historian would find difficult to charter. The collection of museums in the city centre and its environs has however recorded the evolution of Manchester’s history – and there are lots of them. The Manchester Museum of Science and Industry, or, ‘MOSI’, as it’s known by those who frequent it, has been around for 40 years. Granted not at the sight it rests today but it has served as a museum devoted to science, technology and industry.
It’s likely you didn’t know but Manchester was the first industrialised city in the world. This grandiose accolade was brought about by a boom in textile manufacturing over the course of the industrial revolution. Those days are long gone but the heritage remains. The MOSI building itself is spread across the former Liverpool Road Station which linked the Manchester-Liverpool railway; the world’s first passenger railway. Today the sight is home to a dozen decommissioned airplanes that greet unsuspecting visitors in the museum’s aerodynamics department.
Make sure you get the most out of your day by giving yourself plenty of time to explore. We would recommend at least a full morning or afternoon, but you’ll be surprised how quickly the time goes once you immerse yourself in Manchester’s fascinating history.
From the world’s first industrial city to 24-hour party capital, MOSI takes you on a journey through Manchester’s heritage with sights, sounds and even smells! You can see what it was like to work in a cotton mill during one of our textile demonstrations, see the stars of the night sky in our Planetarium or even venture into a Victorian sewer…
Wear comfortable shoes and take an umbrella – it’s a fairly big site (and this is Manchester!).
Visit the MOSI and get educated in Manchester’s history. After all, it costs nothing. It’s free entry everyday.
MOSI is located on Liverpool Road in Castlefield, minutes from Manchester city centre. It is clearly signposted from all main routes into the city – simply follow the brown tourist signs.
Open 10am to 5pm every day.
(Except 24 to 26 Dec & 1 Jan)
Liverpool Road
Castlefield
Manchester
M3 4FP
For more information visit www.mosi.org.uk
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