Description of the attraction
The Vitebsk Tram History Museum began its work in 1966 in the building of the Vitebsk tram depot.
The history of electric transport in Vitebsk began in 1885, when the French lord Fernand Guillon came to the Vitebsk city council and announced that he wanted to build an electric railway in the city. Considering that in Europe the first electric passenger tram was launched only in 1881, the Vitebsk authorities saw such an idea as a utopia, but, nevertheless, in 1886 an agreement was signed, according to which the city transferred the concession for the construction and operation of trams in Vitebsk for a period of 40 years.
In order to start up tram traffic, it was necessary to build a power plant. An enterprising Frenchman built an oil and wood power plant. She not only provided electricity for trams, but also illuminated the most important city houses: the governor's palace, the headquarters of the Dvinsk military district, a court, a hotel, an infirmary and a theater.
On June 18, 1898, the first tram was launched in Vitebsk. Earlier than in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
The small museum opened on the initiative of the trade union in 1966 has done a great job finding all the archival materials related to the work of trams in Vitebsk. The museum exposition contains documents, photographs, models of old trams, cash registers, tickets, conductor's bags and many other curious items.
But the most interesting thing is in the tram park - there are collected real operating old trams, which are still used by those who wish on weekends and holidays.
