Museums in Madrid for all audiences: firefighters, railways and natural sciences
In Madrid, we also find museums that help us to learn a little more about our past from different perspectives. The National Museum of Natural Sciences is a must, especially if you're visiting with your family. It has an extensive collection, gathered over more than two centuries, which currently includes a whale’s skeleton, a giant squid and an African elephant, as well as the must-have dinosaur fossils.
A very different but equally interesting collection is offered by the Railway Museum, located in the old Delicias station. Just looking at the iron building is impressive enough: for a long time, it was thought to be designed by the same architect as the Eiffel Tower. But its interior is even better: beautiful trains from the last century and a half that were used in Spain, including steam, traction and diesel locomotives. The clock room houses the one used to start the country's first train journey; in another room we can enjoy incredible models, in motion! For two weekends every month, this facility hosts the popular Mercado de Motores, with musical performances, food stalls and a variety of handicrafts.
Another kind of movement and activity is what brings us to the Firefighters Museum, reopened in 2022 after eight years of renovation. In addition to vehicles from different eras and all kinds of tools, there is also an overview of the history of the corps, from the so-called fire extinguishers of the 17th century to the importance of this profession today. There are also different workshops and activities for any visitor to have a great time.