What to See

We've arranged the museum's exhibition galleries by themes important to Sheffield's industrial history.

Find out more below, but DON'T MISS THESE:

River Don Engine 
Bessemer Converter
Grand Slam Bomb
Crossley Gas Engine
Bramah Press
Benjamin Huntsman Clock
Penny Farthing Bicycle

Please note: the River Don Engine is currently undergoing an annual boiler shutdown. Regular engine runs will start again on Thurs 23 Sept 2010. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Steel

The first new exhibition area is all about one of Sheffield's most famous industries: steelmaking. Explore the history of steelmaking, its origins, the inventions, the workers, the products - large, small and shiny. From Benjamin Huntsman's invention of crucible steel in 1742, to Bessemer's mass production method in 1856, and Harry Brearley's discovery of stainless steel in 1913, our objects, photographs and activities will tell you all about it.

Growth and Power

Here, the growth from village to city is charted, using smaller objects to represent different periods in the city's production history. How growth in industry was tied into power sources such as water and steam is explored in the displays. Also featured is the effect that growth in industry had on the people who lived and worked in Sheffield.

People and Skills

This display looks at the hand skills and trades particular to Sheffield. Find out about the terrible working conditions of an industrial town, the infamous Buffer Lasses, unemployment and the workhouse, illegal unions and the Sheffield Outrages.

Mass Industrialisation

In this section, find out how large scale heavy industry took over Sheffield from the 1850s onwards and how the giant steelworks which dominated the east side of Sheffield were created. What effect did the industrial revolution have on the light trades of cutlery and tool manufacture? And what happened to Sheffield during the First and Second World Wars? Find out what Sheffield's industries are today.

The Victorian Age

The area looks at Sheffield's role in creating Victorian Britain and the Empire, and the recognition the city gained through its representation at the Great Exhibition.

The Little Mesters

Visit the Little Mesters Street at Kelham Island Museum and see a hand forger and grinder at work in the reconstructed Victorian street. They are two of the few remaining craftspeople still operating out of workshops in Sheffield.

Often described as the backbone of Sheffield's cutlery and toolmaking industries, the Little Mesters were a network of craftspeople working out of small rented workshops. At the height of their population in the mid 1800s, these self-employed workers were making a vast contribution to the variety of products which bore a Sheffield stamp. Their reputation is one of skilled work and quality products.

The Transport Gallery and Open Store

Opened in October 2005, the Transport Gallery showcases some of the finest Sheffield-made vehicles of the 1920s. The most famous is the Sheffield Simplex, a car built to rival the Rolls-Royce! Find out more about transport in Sheffield over the centuries and watch our DVD of travel and transport manufacture in the city.

From the Transport Gallery floor, you can also view our Open Store and find out more about the fascinating collections behind the scenes at the Museum. You can also view the Conservation Workshops where the Museum's collections are cared for by our engineers.