The first submarine for tourists was the star of Expo 64 in Lausanne. Not so long ago, this pioneering submersible had deteriorated into a rusty hulk that resembled a beached whale more than the triumph of technology it once was. Its fate seemed to be sealed. The Swiss Museum of Transport then stepped in and decided to save this symbol of cutting-edge Swiss engineering – with your help!
In 1964, Jacques Piccard named his submarine after his father. White, slim and modern, the Mesoscaph made its maiden voyage at Expo 64 on Lake Geneva. It was then sold to the USA in 1965 where it made 12,000 dives as a tourist attraction, research submarine and lost treasure seeker. It was not until 30 years later that the AMPA association brought the submarine back to Switzerland. After a short interlude at the Expo.02 in Murten, it was laid up on a factory site and transported to the Swiss Museum of Transport at the end of 2005.
Now, after more than 28,000 hours of work and in time for the 50th anniversary, the Mesoscaph submersible has been restored to its former grandeur. It was presented to the public in a ceremony attended by the Piccard family on 30 October 2014.
Of course, we still need your help to preserve this first-ever example of a submersible designed especially for tourist excursions. We greatly appreciate each and every donation. Thank you!
