Category: Culture and Entertainment > Museum
District: Lisboa > Lisboa > Belém > Junqueira
It is located in the Belém area, a zone with a strong historical presence in the city of Lisbon. The building is situated by the Tagus River, in an urban setting distinguished by its monumentality and cultural heritage.
This museum occupies the premises of the former Tejo Power Station, a thermoelectric plant that operated for several decades and was essential for supplying electricity to the Lisbon region. The complex is considered one of the most notable examples of industrial architecture in Portugal from the first half of the 20th century.
Its construction took place between 1908 and 1951, showing different phases of expansion reflected in its architecture. The structure combines the use of iron with brick cladding, featuring styles ranging from Art Nouveau in the older buildings to classicism in later expansions. The Tejo Power Station complex is classified as a Building of Public Interest.
The museological concept combines elements of a Science Museum and an Industrial Archaeology Museum. Visitors are invited to explore the past, present, and future of energy, in a space where the history of electricity production coexists with current and future energy themes.
The permanent exhibition allows visitors to understand the operation of the old power station, displaying original machinery and recreating the working environment that existed there. In addition, the museum frequently hosts temporary exhibitions in various fields, such as photography, sculpture, or painting, and promotes diverse cultural events.
The visit typically begins at the Coal Square, once the unloading point for the fuel that fed the boilers, now a reception and event space. This is followed by the Exhibition Hall, the former low-pressure boiler area, now used for temporary displays.
In the imposing Boiler Room, visitors encounter four large high-pressure boilers. Boiler number 15 has been adapted to allow access to its interior, revealing the complexity of its structure. This space addresses the history of the power station and the working conditions of its operators.
The Ash Pit Room, on the lower floor, highlights the harsh working conditions associated with ash collection. The tour also includes the Experimentation Room, an interactive space dedicated to energy sources and scientific advancements in electricity, with educational modules and games.
The Water Room displays the water treatment process for use in the boilers, exhibiting machines from the 1940s. Adjacent to this, in the Condenser Room, are the condensers for steam cooling and the pumps for capturing water from the Tagus. In this space, a permanent exhibition, "Faces of the Tejo Power Station", pays homage to the workers through photographs and audiovisuals.
On the floor above the condensers, the Generator Room displays two of the power station's turbo-alternators, one of which has been musealized to show its internal structure and explain how electricity was generated. The visit culminates in the Control Room, where generators and electricity distribution were controlled, now converted into an educational space with practical demonstrations on energy production.
In addition to what is displayed in the former power station premises, the museum has a vast collection that includes machinery, equipment, and pieces related to the production and distribution of electricity, covering a period from the late 19th century to the present day. The collection is preserved through restoration and conservation.
The Documentation Centre serves as a specialized resource for the study of energy and electricity. It holds an extensive collection of documents, blueprints, books, and photographs that record the history of electricity in Portugal and other topics related to industrial heritage and museology.
Throughout the year, the museum hosts various cultural activities and events, held both indoors and outdoors, in the Coal Square. These include temporary exhibitions, concerts, conferences, and initiatives such as the "Month of Science", which brings together various activities related to scientific dissemination.
Guided tours are available, designed to be dynamic and educational, explaining the process of electricity production at the power station and addressing topics such as renewable energies, often complemented by simple but demonstrative experiments.
Coordinates DD: 38.6956678,-9.1953114
Coordinates DMS: 38°41'44.4"N 09°11'43.1"W
Weather Belém
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