You’ve probably seen the photo before. It’s one of the most famous photos ever taken. On June 22, 1895, in Montparnasse Station in Paris, France, the Granville-Paris Express overshot its platform and crashed through the station’s glass façade, dangling from several stories above the street below.
Well, believe it or not, there’s a museum in Brazil that features a dramatic recreation of that famous accident. You can’t really miss it: the train is dangling over the museum’s main entrance.
El Mundo a Vapor, or the “World of Steam,” is a popular tourist attraction in Canela, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The museum that offers visitors a glimpse into the history of steam-powered machinery and industrialization. The main attraction of Mundo a Vapor is its large-scale recreations of historical steam-powered machines and events. One of the most famous and attention-grabbing recreations at Mundo a Vapor is, of course, the Granville-Paris train accident exhibit, a dramatic and visually striking recreation of a historical train collision
Mundo a Vapor’s recreation of this train accident is part of the museum’s goal to provide visitors with a vivid and immersive experience. The recreation aims to capture the chaotic and dramatic nature of the original accident, with shattered glass, twisted metal, and the train’s front end seemingly embedded in the museum’s exterior.
Fachada do Mundo a Vapor by Mundo a Vapor licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
Visitors to Mundo a Vapor can witness this exhibit up close and learn about the historical context of the Montparnasse Station accident. The attraction aims to combine education with entertainment, offering a memorable and thought-provoking experience. The impact of the exhibit lies in its ability to convey the power and force of steam-powered locomotives while also highlighting a significant event in the history of industrialization.
Mundo a Vapor opened in 1991, created by the Urbani brothers, who were steam engine enthusiasts. In addition to the Granville-Paris recreation, the park is home to a collection of over 100 steam-powered machines, including locomotives, cars, boats, and other vehicles. The machines are displayed in themed settings that represent different parts of the world, such as the Amazon rainforest, the African savanna, and the American West.
Visitors can take a guided tour of the park, or explore it on their own. There are also interactive exhibits where visitors can learn about how steam power works. The park also has a train ride, a playground, and a restaurant.
The visitor experience at Mundo a Vapor is a mix of education and entertainment. Visitors can learn about the history of steam power and how it has been used throughout the world. They can also see working steam engines up close and learn how they operate. The park is also a fun place to spend a day with family and friends.
Featured Photo: Granville-Paris Express Replica by Tiago Fioreze licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
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