The National Museum of Science and Technology of Catalonia celebrates 40 years

The National Museum of Science and Technology of Catalonia (MNACTEC) is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. Inaugurated on April 12, 1984, the MNACTEC is one of the three national museums of Catalonia and its mission is to study, interpret, conserve, disseminate and show, in an innovative and participatory way, the implementation and evolution of scientific and technical advances, the its industrial application, and especially its involvement and social incidence.

The MNACTEC, located in Terrassa in one of the most outstanding buildings of Catalan industrial modernism, the Vapor Aymerich, Amat i Jover, presents various thematic exhibitions that make known the scientific, technical and industrial heritage of Catalonia in areas such as energy, transport, textiles, IT or chemistry.

The MNACTEC collection is made up of more than 20,000 objects that include the most important material evidence of humanity's technical ingenuity, as well as the most relevant objects invented or manufactured in Catalonia in areas such as audiovisual technologies, computing, telecommunications, medicine, energy or productive sectors. During 2023, the MNACTEC received more than 113,000 visitors.

Industrial heritage, a treasure of cultural heritage Industrial, scientific and technical heritage has a direct implication with our contemporary society and forms part of Catalonia's cultural heritage. That is why it is essential to value the material that the Museum preserves and exhibits and that reminds us where we come from, what we are and where we want to go.

Among the permanent exhibitions of the MNACTEC stand out The textile factory, which shows the entire process of manufacturing wool fabrics in the original context of a factory from the beginning of the 20th century, or The transport, which presents the collection of automobiles, trucks, engines, airplanes, motorcycles and bicycles, as well as exhibits dedicated to the history of computers, energy sources and the application of chemistry. The Museum also has the Explora 0-6 space, an innovative space for discovery and experimentation for children aged 0 to 6.

The most recent temporary exhibitions are: Joan Oró. In search of the origin of life, about the life and professional career of the biochemist from Lleida; Illuminats, a journey through the technological evolution of lighting, and MNACTEC Treasures: Coffees, coffee makers and coffee makers, which reviews the technical and social evolution that has meant the production and consumption of coffee.

Celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Museum

To celebrate the four decades of history of the National Museum of Science and Technology of Catalonia, the MNACTEC has prepared a special program on the 13th and 14th of April which, apart from being an open weekend for the museum, several exclusive free activities will also take place there. Among the outstanding activities are the walks through the vaults of the roof, an escape room, a drone show inside the museum and a concert by the charismatic trap singer Lildami from Terrasse.