A Coruña’s Museo Nacional de Ciencia e Tecnología traces the history of science and technology through a collection of more than 17,000 objects, from instruments and tools to vehicles. The museum is inside the Prisma de Cristal, a glass-and-concrete building designed by Victoria Acebo and Ángel Alonso. Look for the front section of a Boeing 747, historic cars and motorbikes, and a display with an invention from each year of the 20th century. Interactive areas give children room to explore, and admission is free.
A collection across centuries
The museum brings together more than 17,000 objects connected with science and technology. Its holdings include instruments, devices, tools and transport vehicles, with some objects dating to the 16th century. The permanent displays include more than 500 items, while other exhibitions rotate.
A room follows inventions across the 20th century, pairing objects from different decades. Among them are a 1946 pencil sharpener, a 1965 SEAT 600 and a Sony PlayStation from 1994. The selection offers a compact way to see how everyday technology changed over the century.
The Boeing 747 and other highlights
Part of a Boeing 747 is among the largest objects on display: visitors can see the aircraft’s front section and cockpit. The plane has a connection to the return of Pablo Picasso’s painting Guernica to Spain from New York. The collection also includes cars and motorbikes, placing transport alongside scientific instruments and other devices.
Another notable object is the IBM 650, identified as the first computer used in Spain. It was bought in 1959. The museum also holds the first particle accelerator designed and built at Spain’s Nuclear Energy Board. These objects give the collection a local and national context alongside its broader history of technology.
The Prisma de Cristal
The museum occupies the Prisma de Cristal, a contemporary building designed by architects Victoria Acebo and Ángel Alonso. Its glass-cube form makes the architecture part of the visit, distinct from the historical objects inside.
The displays include interactive sections for children, so families can spend time exploring as well as looking at the collection. Exhibit information is mostly in Spanish. A translation app can help you follow the explanations, and lockers are available for belongings.
FAQ
Is admission to the museum free?
Yes. Admission is free.
What can you see at the Museo Nacional de Ciencia e Tecnología?
The collection includes scientific instruments, technological devices and transport vehicles. Highlights include part of a Boeing 747, an IBM 650 computer and a display of inventions from each year of the 20th century.
Is the museum suitable for children?
Yes. It has interactive areas for children, as well as large objects such as part of a Boeing 747.
What language are the exhibits in?
Most exhibit information is in Spanish. A translation app can help you read it.
