Water Museum of Thessaloniki

What I can see

Here was the pumping station of the Ottoman Water Company of Thessaloniki from which 4 buildings were reused to house the Water Museum, the only one in Greece. The original equipment of the pumping station has been preserved (steam boilers, pumps, steam engine, turbines, etc.) and is characterized as a “living operating museum exhibit”. The buildings are elegant, have apparent metal frame and their masonry consists of the characteristic red brick of the industrial buildings of the time. The museum takes us on a journey through the history of the city’s water supply through equipment, photographs, diagrams, maps, tools and workers’ objects and teaches us how technology contributed to securing water. At the same time, the museum organizes educational programs about water.

What I can't see

The central pumping station was a project of the Ottoman Empire in the context of the Europeanization of Thessaloniki. The buildings were prefabricated, designed by the Belgian Aimé Cuypers, and the construction and operation of the project was undertaken by Belgians. For about 90 years, the pumping station delivered water to the city, first with steam-powered and then with electric-powered pumps. The water came from the river Axios and boreholes. The company quickly developed a pipeline network of about 80 km and provided free water to the fire department, government schools, camps and hospitals. It also installed hydrants for watering and fire fighting throughout the city, as they proved very useful after the devastating fires. This entire infrastructure was a novelty for Thessaloniki, and easy access to safe water was considered a luxury at first. Many Thessalonians were hesitant and suspicious of this innovation and preferred to buy water from street vendors.

Info

• Address: 19 26is Oktovriou St.
• Postal Code : 54727
• Phone: +30 2310 514029

Bibliography