Verkehrshaus der Schweiz

The Verkehrshaus der Schweiz, or Swiss Museum of Transport, stands on the shore of Lake Lucerne at Lidostrasse 5 in Lucerne, Switzerland, about two kilometres east of the city centre. It opened in 1959 and is among the most visited museums in the country. The collection covers the history of transport and communication in Switzerland, including rail, road, aviation, shipping, cable cars and space travel, and shows how mountains and lakes shaped the nation's infrastructure. Exhibits include historic locomotives and carriages, early cars and motorcycles, aircraft such as vintage Swiss and military machines, lake steamers, and a model of the Gotthard railway that tells the story of the tunnels through the Alps. The museum also includes the Swiss Chocolate Adventure, the Media World with exhibitions on communication and film, the Hans Erni Museum showing works by the Lucerne artist, a planetarium, and a large-format cinema. Displays are organised thematically by mode of transport, with interactive stations, simulators and driving experiences, and the museum aims at an educational yet playful approach to the history and technology of mobility. The site has been expanded in stages since the 1950s, and new halls and exhibitions are added regularly, with collections renewed to reflect changing questions about energy and sustainability. The extensive grounds include outdoor exhibits such as vehicles and aircraft. The museum is run as a non-profit foundation and plays a role in Swiss education and tourism. It is easily reached by boat or by bus from the centre of Lucerne, and a full visit can take a whole day. Because of the range of exhibits, it is among the most family-friendly attractions in the area.