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<\/p>\nThe Science and Industry Museum has announced a special weekend of events to celebrate the upcoming anniversary of the opening of the Liverpool and Manchester railway.<\/p>\n
September 2030 will mark 200 years since the opening of the world\u2019s first steam-powered, inter-urban railway. Its Manchester terminus was Liverpool Road Station, now home to the Science and Industry Museum.<\/p>\n
To mark five years until the momentous milestone, and to tie in with the national Heritage Open Days, the museum is hosting a weekend packed full of free celebratory activities, including behind-the-scenes tours, hands-on tinkering and railway-themed arts and crafts from Fri 19 Sep \u2013 Sun 21 Sep.<\/p>\n
As well as kicking off the five-year countdown to the bicentenary, the Science and Industry Museum\u2019s celebratory weekend in September will mark 42 years since it opened the doors to its current home in Castlefield on 15 Sep 1983. Over the following four decades, it has welcomed millions of visitors to explore Manchester\u2019s unique identity and ideas that change the world. from the industrial revolution to today and beyond.<\/p>\n
Taking place daily throughout the weekend, behind-the-scenes tours will run at 11am, 1pm and 3pm. During the 30-minute sessions, visitors can join curators for a special look at the museum\u2019s historic spaces that aren\u2019t usually open to the public, including some that are temporarily closed while conservation and repair work is underway, such as the iconic 1830 Station and 1830 Warehouse.<\/p>\n
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Those on the tour can see for themselves the vision as the site transforms for the future. They\u2019ll also be invited to explore the history of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, imagining what life would have been like for the workers and passengers who filled the site almost two centuries ago.<\/p>\n
Also running daily, at 12pm, 1.30pm and 4pm, the museum\u2019s archives will be open. The Research Study Area is usually only accessible via advance appointment and has been temporarily closed to the public while building works are carried out, but, for this weekend only, visitors can discover original source material and reference books in the Lower Ground floor of the museum\u2019s historic New Warehouse.<\/p>\n
From Stephenson\u2019s proposed route map for the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, to colourful engravings and first-hand accounts from early rail travellers, it\u2019s a unique opportunity to find out about the birth of passenger railways from those who were there.<\/p>\n
Running all day across the weekend, there\u2019ll be plenty of chances to get hands-on with Manchester\u2019s history of movement with themed arts and crafts workshops and interactive activities in the Revolution Manchester Gallery.<\/p>\n
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Other interactive activities will bring STEM to life for visitors and highlight the heritage restoration work being carried out across the site by celebrating the skills needed to restore,
repair and futureproof the museum\u2019s historical buildings. Landscape architects, PlanIt, will also be leading drop-in events aimed at sparking curiosity in STEM skills and colleagues from the University of Salford and Manchester will be hosting special animation and poetry workshops.<\/p>\n
Across the same weekend, visitors can also enjoy a free ride to the museum and other cultural venues in the city. In celebration of Heritage Open Days, the Museum of Transport, Greater Manchester, is offering the opportunity to hop on board one of its heritage vehicles. A free Heritage Bus service will be running between the Cheetham Hill-based museum, the Science and Industry Museum and People\u2019s History Museum on Sat 13 Sep & Sun 14 Sep, as well as Sat 20 Sep & Sun 21 Sep. For more information, visit the Museum of Transport, Greater Manchester\u2019s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Station Agent\u2019s House will be part of the programme, too, with a rare opportunity to explore the property on Sat 13 Sep & Sun 14 Sep, between 10am \u2013 4pm. Once home to the Station Agent working on the world\u2019s first passenger railway, it has recently been restored as a city-centre holiday let by UK restoration charity, The Landmark Trust. Pre-booking is advised, and can be made here<\/a>.<\/p>\n You can find more information about all of the Science and Industry Museum\u2019s railway anniversary plans here<\/a>. A range of double centenary events are being planned for 2030 and coordinated by Manchester Histories under the banner of\u00a0Rocket: All Aboard<\/a>.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tA Manchester Wire Partnership post<\/p>\n \t\tFri 19 Sep – Sun 21 Sep, Science and Industry Museum, Liverpool Rd, Manchester M3 4FP<\/p>\n\n