Water museums and hydraulic heritage mapped globally

Massimo Negri of the European Museum Academy has mapped various global theme parks and museums that focus on water as a vital resource for planetary protection and human wellbeing. These institutions range from those dedicated to hydraulic systems to sites showcasing industrial archaeology.

Key examples include the Museu da Água in Lisbon, which features an 18th-century aqueduct, and the St. Petersburg Museum. In Paris, the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie serves as Europe’s largest science park, featuring hydraulic energy models such as dams, turbines, and watermills. Another site, ‘The Universe of Water’, is housed in a historic 1859 red-brick water tower.

Scientific and naturalistic institutions also play a role. The MUSE in Trento, designed by Renzo Piano, features a significant section on the Alpine context, including a glacier wall that allows visitors to physically experience the reality of melting ice and climate change.