Exhibitions

Century of Trams Exhibition

In 2010 the Great Exhibition Hall was redisplayed with the new ‘Century of Trams’ exhibition. The exhibition takes you on a fascinating journey through a hundred years of tramway development, from 1860 – 1960, taking in horse trams, steam trams and electric trams.

With funding from the Wolfson Foundation and Derbyshire Economic Partnership the exhibition now features new interpretive panels, audio sounds to represent each decade of the timeline and interactives for all the family to enjoy.

Don’t forget to look out for the new archive film features that are now on display in the hall. There are two film shows projected on the windows of two of the trams. Take a look at the story of Blackpool’s trams which features some of the earliest archive film footage the Museum holds, or see the last days of the tramway systems from the 1950s and how the Museum came to be the home of these vintage vehicles. All contributing to our reputation as one of the best Derbyshire attractions for all the family.

Stephenson Discovery Centre

Built in the 1800s, the two storey Stephenson Workshop stands in the heart of the Museum. It was originally used as a smithy and wagon works for George Stephenson’s one metre gauge mineral railway to transport limestone from what was then Crich Cliff Quarry to kilns at Ambergate.

With funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund the building has been fully restored and is now home to a brand new state of the art learning facility on the ground floor and the Stephenson Discovery Centre on the first floor.

Officially opened in summer 2011, the Stephenson Discovery Centre is a vibrant interactive space. Visitors can explore what there is to do at Crich Tramway Village, as well as how the Museum started, the history before the Tramway Village and how overcrowding in expanding towns and cities paved the way for in the introductions of trams to Britain in the 1800s.

Derby Assembly Rooms

It’s going to be another exciting year of change at the Museum, as we redisplay the exhibition space located in the Derby Assembly Rooms. The exhibition looks at modern tramway systems and their reintroduction to our cities today. We’ll be keeping you up to date throughout the season on how work is going with the redisplay and hope you’ll come back later in the year to see the exhibition when it reopens.

Workshop Viewing Gallery

Now connected to the Stephenson Discovery Centre via a glass bridge link, the Workshop Viewing Gallery gives visitors the chance to watch the Museums’ skilled workshop staff restoring trams and keeping our operating fleet in tip top condition.

The exhibition on the gallery explores the history of how trams were made as well the tools and skills which would have been needed to maintain them.

Look no further for superb Derbyshire attractions.