Celebrating its 15th anniversary in July, this permanent exhibition on the ground floor of the Science Museum offers a uniquely immersive journey through history. Presented as an unfolding story, it charts the rise of the modern industrial world from 1750 to the present day – a story made all the more palpable owing to the inclusion of many of the museum’s most iconic artifacts.
Looming large as you enter is Stephenson’s 1829 passenger train, the humbly named Rocket, which we’re told reached speeds of up to 29 mph. With the inclusion of the 140 mph HS3 rail route in this year’s Queen’s Speech, one wonders what these early industrial giants would have made of the pace of the modern world. And it is this sense of scale, this sense of how far we’ve come in just over 250 years that this exhibit so concisely captures.
From steam trains, to an original Ford Model T car, to the Apollo 10 command module, the artifacts are blended seamlessly into the vast interior of the hall. Stone floor, glass cases and simple white plinths give a sense of space and reverence. This is history explained through sculpture and craft.
As you walk through, very much choosing your own pace, you will find yourself inadvertently stopping – to explore, examine or simply admire. A valuable piece of advice however: look up. This is also space that has been used creatively as demonstrated by the 1935 Lockheed 10A Electra coming into land above you.
Equally intriguing though are all the smaller objects that make up much of the exhibit. Early telephones, irons and toasters are guaranteed to raise a smile or expression of complete bafflement from any children in tow.
The Science Museum may ostensibly be for kids, but this is one exhibit that will possibly appeal more to the ‘big kid’ in any adult; history is after all the preserve of the slightly more mature. I challenge you however to resist the temptation to touch Stephenson’s Rocket – I know I did.
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The Science Museum
Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2DD
Open everyday 10.00 – 18.00
Free admission
Ben Davis 2015 