Manchester’s Museum of Science and Industry celebrates 30 years at its current Liverpool Street home with a host of special events this weekend.
Using the milestone to show off a number of its most iconic items, visitors to MOSI can expect quizzes, cakes and a trail-picking activity tracing stories and objects from the museum’s history.
This special event allows visitors to hunt for several key artefacts of the past, including scientist John Dalton’s spectacles and the first machine for manufacturing cotton – a significant factor in Manchester’s textile industry.
MOSI is also running two trains on September 14 and 15, one of which was recently restored by the museum.
A museum spokesman said: “What’s on offer over the weekend is really highlighting the extensive collection MOSI has to offer.”
Currently one of the most popular museums outside of London, MOSI houses 16,600 items and has welcomed 12 million visitors since it opened at its current home in September 1983.
From its humble beginnings at Grosvenor Street in 1969, MOSI has steadily built its reputation.
The museum moved to the formerly dilapidated train station at Liverpool Street as a result of its burgeoning popularity.
It now boasts 15 galleries, the world’s first computer, and costumes from the Shameless TV series, representing many historical and modern industries.
It also hosts Manchester Science Festival every year and, since 2012, has been a member of the Science Museum Group, allowing MOSI to establish a global status.
Speaking of MOSI’s enduring name, Jean Franczyk, the museum’s director since 2012, said there were plans to build on the reputation and create an ‘internationally significant museum with a strong Manchester personality.’
She said: “MOSI is an extremely well-loved museum throughout the region. We think that MOSI is the best place to talk about where science met industry and the modern world began, and we are working to develop the site to tell these stories better.”
The museum’s upcoming events include the Real Ale Festival from September 26 to 28, and Brains: The Mind as Matter exhibition which includes a music and quiz night with Denis Jones on October 10.
