Folk Museum of Vitebsk Tram History

The first streetcar in Belarus went to Vitebsk. And its launch took place on June 18, 1898. Especially for this event Vitebsk composer F. Kramer wrote "Streetcar March". Vitebsk was the fifth city in the Russian Empire after Kiev (1892), Nizhni Novgorod (1896), Ekaterinoslav (now Dnepropetrovsk, 1897) and Kursk (April 1898), where streetcar traffic was launched.

In February 1896, a French citizen Fernand Guillon, having won against two other bidders, was awarded a contract by the Vitebsk city government for the construction and use of a streetcar in the city for 40 years. He had to erect electric tracks at his own expense, including a power station (which, by the way, also provided light to other important establishments of the city). In 1899, the rights for exclusive exploitation were taken over by the Belgian joint-stock company Vitebsk Tramway, which Guillon was able to establish to run the streetcar company according to the contract. Four branches of streetcar tracks were built; 18 cars with motors and 15 trailing summer cars were brought from Belgium. A depot for 42 cars was built.

On November 20, 1966, the museum of Vitebsk streetcar history was opened in the administrative building of the depot. Four halls, 110 sq m, over 2000 exhibits, five thematic sections. Since 2002, it has borne the honorary title "The People's Museum". The museum features original documents, photos, pictures, information on the invention of the first streetcar, in 1880 by the Russian inventor F. Pirotski, the launch of the Vitebsk streetcar, the working conditions of streetcar workers before and after the Second World War, the postwar restoration, reconstruction and modernization, the history of the working class. This museum offers a model of streetcar cars, ranging from the first Belgian and domestic made, to modern cars, as well as supports for conductors and car attendants, cash dispensers, conductor bags, tickets, traffic schedules, etc. Curious Items. An old streetcar car was installed on its pedestal by the 110th anniversary of the streetcar's commissioning in the city. In 2011, an exclusive exhibit, an original share for 100 francs, made by the Belgian company Vitebsk Tramway, as well as a piece of narrow-gauge rail made by the Bochum company, was added to the museum's collection.