Description of the attraction
The Electricity Museum is located in Belem, an area of Lisbon with a large number of historical monuments. The museum building is classified as a monument of public importance. The museum is located on the grounds of the old Tagus power plant, which has illuminated Lisbon for over 40 years.
The museum was opened in 1990. After 10 years, the museum was closed for restoration work and reopened to visitors in 2006. Today, the museum has a permanent exhibition for visitors: they can see the original machinery of the Tagus power plant and learn how it works.
The museum building is one of the most unique among architectural structures and one of the most striking examples in the architecture of industrial buildings in Portugal of the first half of the twentieth century. The Tejo power plant was built from 1908 to 1951. The power plant building is a reinforced concrete structure with brick trim. The facades are made in different styles, the old sections are in the art nouveau style, the more modern sections are in classicism. The station was gradually expanded and turned into a large industrial complex.
The visit to the complex starts from the Coal Square, where exhibitions and other events are also held. It was here that barges with coal for the station arrived. To enter the complex itself, visitors must pass through the Exhibition Hall, the building that houses the low pressure boilers. Next is the Boiler Room, where old high pressure boilers are located. Coal was burned in the Ashroom. The experimental hall of the museum is divided into three sections: one section talks about the types of energy, the second - about scientists who have made an invaluable contribution to the production of electricity, and the third section is an educational one, which contains training modules and games. This is followed by the Water Hall, the Condensing Hall, the Generating Hall and the Control Hall.
The museum periodically organizes conferences and other educational events on the topic of electricity.
