The people of Madeira call this museum Casa da Luz (House of Light). It is a landmark in Funchal and houses a collection that tells the whole story of electricity in Madeira. The name comes from the function for which the original building was constructed in the 19th century.
In addition to the collection, the museum offers interesting facts and curiosities to discover. For example, on display in a showcase on the second floor is a dormiphone, a device unknown to younger generations.
Museum Director Luísa Garrido explains: "The English used it to record the speeches they wanted to master in Portuguese. They could use the clock to programme it to activate at the desired time. While they slept, they listened to the recording, which is why it is called a “dormiphone” (from the Portuguese verb dormir, meaning ‘to sleep’) . It was used as a memory trainer to learn the Portuguese language."
Dércia Silva is the one who leads this journey into the past. She has almost 30 years of experience as a guide. Every day, she guides visitors through 2,000 metres of modern architecture exhibition, with objects, models, audiovisual media and written documents. The animations make learning easier and more interactive, whether for schools, tourists or Madeirans.
She begins by explaining the building was originally built by The Madeira Electric Lighting Company, an English firm, granted permition from the City Council in 1895 to install the first power station. It was there that, on 19 July 1897, Funchal got its first electric street lighting. The power station operated until 1989, when it was no longer able to meet the city's needs.
‘In the centre of Funchal, there was no room to grow, there was noise, pollution,’ explains Dércia Silva. Production was then transferred to the Vitória Thermal Power Station in Câmara de Lobos, and the building was transformed into a museum in 1997 to celebrate 100 years of electricity on the island.
The tour begins with the evolution of lighting before electricity. Dércia Silva points out the first oil lamps, used from 1847 onwards, when Funchal had only three public lanterns, a number that later grew to 70. In 1866, petroleum lamps appeared, replacing oil lamps because they were ‘cleaner, more efficient and provided more light’.
The tour reveals curious details that have been preserved. Some of the oldest lamps can still be seen in public spaces in the city, such as the Jaime Moniz High School or the Municipal Garden. Another preserved detail is the supports on tall lamps, where employees balanced themselves to manually light the lamps every night. These elements show how electricity production was closely linked to daily city life.
The exhibition also explains how the production, transport and distribution of electricity evolved on the island. Dércia Silva shows models of hydroelectric and thermal power stations.
‘Here we have our Vitória power station, which is the largest, and where everything is generated. It is a sensitive point on our island, and the capacity to produce and manage electricity is enormous.’
Renewable energies are also highlighted during the visit. Students and visitors can see interactive models of solar, wind and hydro energy. ‘We have photovoltaic panels that power small models, such as a miniature train. It is visual and educational, and helps students understand the importance of renewable and non-renewable energies,’ explains Dércia Silva.
Visitors can try their hand at generating electricity by sitting on a bicycle or observing mini wind turbines, a way of learning how energy is transformed.
The museum is also open to the public, with an auditorium where various events are held. It also houses temporary exhibitions. Art collections and historical objects can be exhibited here by their collectors. ‘We receive many requests. We analyse each one and the interest of the collection. The year 2026 is almost fully booked,’ concludes Luísa Garrido.
