Museum of Science and Industry

Today the Museum occupies the former Liverpool Road Station, one of Manchester's most important historic sites. Liverpool Road Station, which opened in 1830, is the world's oldest surviving railway station. It only operated as a passenger station from 1830 to 1844, but continued as a goods station until 1975 when British Rail closed it.

At that time, the Museum needed a permanent home. Opened in 1969, the North Western Museum of Science and Industry quickly outgrew its temporary premises on Grosvenor Street, Chorlton-on-Medlock. Its main funder, Greater Manchester Council, agreed to purchase the 1830 part of Liverpool Road Station from British Rail for the token sum of £1 in 1978. Greater Manchester Council later decided to purchase the later eastern end of the Station too.

The Museum opened at its new site on 15 September 1983, the 153rd anniversary of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. Initially, only the Power Hall and parts of the Main Building and Station Building were in use. Now funded by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, the Museum has continued to restore the buildings to hold new galleries and facilities.