Swiss Transportation Museum
Verkehrshaus - Lucerne, Switzerland
ABOVE: A vintage electric "Lok."
By
Durant
Imboden
Transportation has
always been an important industry in Switzerland, which sits at the Alpine crossroads of
Europe. So it shouldn't be surprising that the
Swiss Museum of Transport
in Lucerne is
among the best of its kind anywhere--as well as being one of the most popular museums in
this country of 6 million train, bus, and boat passengers.
The transportation museum, or Verkerhshaus, is on Lucerne's lakefront
beyond the Kursaal (casino) and the grand hotels that dot the tree-lined promenade. The
complex has grown over the years, and its major exhibition halls include:
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Railways. Examples of steam and electric locomotives and railroad cars from
different parts of Switzerland over the last 150 years are displayed on more than a kilometer
of track. A model railroad shows trains working the Gotthard Pass.
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Road transportation.
See automobiles, engines, horse-drawn coaches, bicycles, and the
development of automotive transport in Switzerland.
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Postal services.
Explore a mail-sorting center, an old postal coach, and a large stamp
collection.
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Telecommunications.
The museum shows the evolution of telephones, radio, and television over
the last 100+ years.
-
Air and space travel.
See antique and modern airplanes (the oldest being a Dufaux biplane
from 1910), plus helicopters, Mercury and Gemini space capsules, and an Apollo space suit
that was worn on the moon.
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Shipping. The museum's
water-related exhibits include restored lake steamers dating back to 1813, model boats, harbor dioramas, and more.
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Cable railways.
Exhibits show cabins from aerial cableways and
working models of mountain transportation.
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Tourism. Learn about the development of the Swiss tourist industry.
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Swissorama. Experience
a 20-minute movie tour of Switzerland on a 360° screen.
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Planetarium. Lie back and see the stars while your headphones deliver the
lecture in English, German, French, or Italian.
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Film Theater. Watch big-budget educational
and nature movies (many in 3D) on a huge screen.
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Hans Erni-Museum. The
Verherhshaus has a building devoted to the works of Lucerne artist Hans Erni. (It
doesn't have much to do with transportation, but maybe Herr Erni liked to ride the bus.)
Related Web site
Verhkehrshaus der Schweiz
- Swiss
Museum of Transport
English-language text describes everything you need to know about the
museum--including opening hours, admission fees, and how to reach the
Verkehrshaus by train, bus, boat, or on foot along the lakeside promenade.
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