Looking into the history of natural gas in Slovakia

Natural gas originated from fossil remains of plants and animals millions of years ago. It was discovered just recently, namely at the beginning of the 20th Century, but nevertheless has quickly replaced gas that had been produced from coal. This was a discovery certainly worthy of our attention and for that reason SPP Company decided in 1996 to mark the 140th Anniversary of the gas industry in Slovakia by opening its Gas Museum, which offers visitors the most interesting moments in the history of the still-developing gas industry.

Establishment of the Gas Museum

SPP Company founded the Gas Museum in March 1996 on the occasion of the 140th Anniversary of the birth of the gas industry in Slovakia. The museum is housed in the renovated premises of a former boiler room, chemical laboratory and tarring hall of the second Bratislava gasworks within the complex of the former branch plant of SPP on Mlynske nivy in Bratislava.

It all started with the 1992 exhibition "In the light of gas lamps" which was a product of cooperation with the Historical Museum of the Slovak National Museum. The Gas Museum followed through on several-decade’s worth of collecting activities by Pavol Hrádek and other former employees of the Bratislava gas works who had preserved many historical artefacts.

The first gasworks for production of lighting gas within the territory of modern Slovakia was established in 1856 in Bratislava and it primarily ensured gas for the lights of the city. Eighty years later a new gas works was built at Mlynske nivy. The new gas works met more demanding technological and capacity requirements for generation and use of lighting gas. The Gas Museum is housed in a preserved portion of these gasworks built in 1936.

Focus of the Gas Museum

From its very beginning the museum was envisioned as a technological museum focusing on the history of the gas industry. There are over 300 exhibits on display in the Gas Museum. The history of lighting gas can be seen in its Pavilion of the Past. The office of the executive agent (prokurista) offers an opportunity to peek into the atmosphere of the then most important factory official of the gasworks at the beginning of the century. The display of the Laboratory provides an overall picture of the essential operational reliability of lighting gas production. The museum also displays exhibits documenting extraction, transport, processing and use of natural gas and new exhibits are regularly being added. The Gas Museum also gathers documentary materials such as photographs, contemporaneous documents, professional literature, gas industry journals and video recordings. Since 2007 this exhibition museum’s name has been the Slovak Gas Museum.

The Museum is pleased to welcome you

The Slovak Gas Museum is open to visitors on working days: Monday – Friday from 10.00 to 14.00.

Contact Information:
Address:
Slovenský plynárenský priemysel, a. s.
Section for Public Relations
Slovak Gas Museum
Mlynské nivy 44/a
825 11 Bratislava 26
Tel.: +421/2/5869 2733, 5869 2650
Fax: +421/2/5869 2810

Admission to the museum is free. Visits by large groups (more than 10 persons) should provide advance notification by telephone at +421/2/5869 2650, 5869 2733 or by email to this address: muzeum@spp.sk