Economy Archive – Swiss National Museum

29. May 2020

20th / 21st century | Technology

The dream of flying

The great names in global history weren’t the only ones who dreamed of flying. Even in the Zürcher Unterland, people were designing and building. Lack of money and scarce resources gave rise to some exceedingly creative aircraft.

27. May 2020

20th / 21st century | Tourism

de en fr

When Dutti bought a mountain railway

by Dominik Landwehr

At the end of the 19th century, Switzerland experienced a mountain railway boom. There was feverish building activity on Monte Generoso. But the company was only able to survive with help from Migros.

22. May 2020

20th / 21st century | Technology

de en fr

All electricity is not the same

by Kilian Elsasser

At the beginning of the 20th century, the electrification of the SBB was a hugely important step for the fledgling electricity sector. However, the issue of what type of energy should be used was a source of tension.

15. May 2020

20th / 21st century | Economy

de en fr

A treasure trove in a quarry

by Katrin Brunner

It’s one of nine quarry sites in the Canton of Zurich, and certainly the most eccentric. The silica sand quarry at Buchs in Zurich was created by chance in 1898, and hit the headlines in April 1910.