Archivist Jan Shearsmith takes us through a collection he found documenting the training exploits of a pilot in the early days of the RAF.
Our collection documents 250 years of discoveries and innovations that began in Manchester and went on to influence the world. In this section of the blog, we want to shine a light upon the achievements and experiences of the people behind those stories.
Curator of Engineering Sarah Baines takes a look at the innovative thinking of James Joule, whose ideas on heat and energy were initially thought to be so revolutionary they were rejected by the scientific establishment.
It was a dark and stormy night… We have some weird, wonderful and decidedly spooky things in the Science Museum Group collections so for the creepiest day of the year let’s take a trip to the basement and remember to bring the holy water…
Michael Bailey, author of Rocket: A history of a pioneering locomotive, talks about the engineering that set Rocket apart from its rivals.
To celebrate the 189th anniversary of the Rainhill Trials, let’s take a look at how the names of the engines captured the spirit of the era, and how what you call something continues to shape how we think of the past and the future.
October 2018 is the 110th anniversary of the Manchester Electrical Exhibition, held at Platt Fields in the Rusholme area of Manchester.
Stephenson’s Rocket has returned to Manchester for the first time in over 180 years. Naturally, the Science and Industry Museum gang were all out in force to document its arrival on social media.
Who knew pylons were so fascinating? Science and Industry Museum Archives Manager Jan Hicks, that’s who…!
To celebrate the return of Rocket to Manchester, we asked you for your favourite locomotive-inspired songs—and you didn’t disappoint.
Like all great events, there was a range of merchandise to commemorate Rocket’s triumph at the Rainhill Trials. Here’s a selection of our favourite memorabilia from our collection…
With International Cat Day, World Lion Day and Erwin Schrödinger’s birthday all happening over the last week, we were inundated by requests (or, complaining mews) from the museum’s feline friends for a cat blog…
One of the most poignant objects to be added in to the textiles gallery is a tiny pair of leather children’s clogs dating from around 1870.