T R AV E L T R E N D S
EXPLORE KSA
Glimpses
OF MADINA’S PAST History found in a historic structure. By Mohammed Mirza
It would be more apt to call the museum Madina Museum rather than the vernacular that has given it the name Hijaz Railway Museum after the train station it is housed in. Mind you, you won’t be finding any significant locomotives or other steam engine parts here. Though, there is a stretch of the historic track, a train shed
82 DESTINATION RIYADH OCTOBER 2016
and whatever is left of the locomotive engines on the rear, they remain cordoned off for tourists. The focus in the museum is on the history of Madina in general. The museum covers the history of Madina from once being a small oasis town to becoming the capital of an Islamic empire that was spread
over continents. Constructed by the Ottoman Sultan, Abdul Hamid II, in around 1908 AD, the century-old structure still holds strong and is very well maintained. The railway station contributed to Madina’s development, but was soon put out of service after a couple of years when the first world war broke out.
PHOTO/ TANVIR AKHTAR
Facade of the museum.