Since the Industrial Revolution, the evolution of transportation has been constantly moving forward at a rapid pace. Societies have gone from ships to rails, to rubber to flight, all in an attempt to increase the speed in which they travel.
Next Tuesday, Richmond Museum visitors will have a chance to time travel back through the decades at the exhibit, On the Move: Richmonds Transportation Legacy, on until January.
The museum worked with the transportation department on the exhibit, which will hopefully spark peoples imaginations about the direction planning and transportation should take in Richmond.
Its almost as if were starting to look back to find ways in how we can navigate Richmond today, said museum curator Rebecca Forrest.
The exhibit also looks at contemporary city planning and the idea of moving away from the personal vehicle to having walk-able neighbourhoods.
A person can really look back at past communities to see how this was all done before the car.
The Richmond Museum Society roved through artifacts and photos from the City of Richmond archives to set the scene.
Some items present include a carriage from the late 1800s and two flight attendant uniforms from the 1950s and 60s, donated by the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum.
Community members also contributed, donating artifacts to the museum, along with a story or two.
The Interurban Tram at Steveston Park has sparked a renewed interest in transportation history and has gotten people talking about their memories.
Weve taken some newer, more modern objects as well, said Forrest. Were still lacking a skateboard and some roller blades, so weve got our eyes open for those.
As a place surrounded by water, Richmonds development has unique aspects not shared by others in the Lower Mainland, such as advancements in boats to navigate the sloughs.
The tunnel is an amazing example of something that really impacted how we get around today, said Forrest. Before that, people had to use ferries or take the long way around. It was an ingenious development for its time.
After the tunnel, people can see how the dependence on the car developed through old newspaper advertisements, trying to sell families on the personal vehicle.
As flights were still expensive at this time, it gave birth to the idea of the road trip as a way to travel for a family vacation, according to Forrest.
Opening night on Tuesday, July 23 starts at 7 p.m. and includes music and food.
YVR representatives will also be there with models of the airport, as well as, a few words from Mayor Malcolm Brodie.
The exhibit includes a Discovery Area where visitors can build their own boats and watch films about Richmonds transportation history in seats from a 737 airplane.
Its just a taste, to pique interest in the citys transportation history, said Forrest.
Hopefully, people will reflect on the transportation they use.
