The History of Infrastructure and Transported Goods in Andalusia

Throughout history, transportation—the movement of people and goods from one place to another, and the mode or vehicles used for that purpose—has played a vital role in the corresponding development, or lack of it, in different towns.

According to the mode by which the movement takes place, they are classified as either land, water, or air transport, and each demands specific infrastructure in order to function: bridleways for transporting animals and people, roads for cars and vehicles to drive on, railroads and stations for trains, ports for ships, airports for airplanes, etc.

Transportation did not undergo major transformation until the Industrial Revolution. Significant advances were made to both vehicles and infrastructures, and there were important changes in terms of the people and goods being moved.

This exhibition will take you on a virtual journey in which we will examine two of the elements that, along with vehicles, define transportation: infrastructure and transported goods.

Map of the Guadalquivir river from La Algaba to Sanlúcar de Barrameda

The Guadalquivir river as the backbone of Andalusia.

Map of the Guadiana river mouth, with the docks of Ayamonte, Villa Real, and Isla Cristina

Maps are key to understanding the land, as they indicate not only natural phenomena, but also human-built infrastructure.

Nautical chart of the Gulf of Huelva, from the Guadiana to the Guadalquivir

Nautical charts are vital tools for sailors.

Boats loading minerals in the port of La Laja, on the banks of the Guadiana river

Mining development in Andalusia required the construction of major infrastructure in order to transport the minerals to the coast.

Pier belonging to Río Tinto in Huelva.

Río Tinto mines. Opencast mining. Cart at the entrance to a gallery.

The opening of the railroad from Tharsis to Odiel.

Map of the communal land expropriated for the construction of the railroad

The building of railroads entailed the expropriation of the necessary land…

…as well as the construction of stations, overhead cables, tunnels, viaducts, etc.

Blanquillo bridge.

List of objects brought back by the Marquis of Ureña on his return from Europe

During the Enlightenment, it was common among the upper classes to embark on voyages of discovery.

Thanks to documents like this, we are able to see what goods and merchandise were transported on these voyages.

Certificate of competency authorizing Antonio López Gómez to drive automobiles with petrol or gasoline engines.

"Jaime y Bárbara" ship in the port of Almería

The role of the officers and crew, a reference for the graphical history of the sailing.

Statistics for passengers departing by sea

Passengers were not only transported for leisure purposes; it was also sometimes necessary to journey across oceans. Emigration was recorded on documents such as this.

American passport belonging to José Antonio de Riaño, from New Orleans, issued in Paris and terminated in Cádiz

Since olden times, travelers have needed a document to allow them to travel freely through different countries; in more recent times, passports have been used.

Passport from Havana to A Coruña belonging to Dolores Rosi.

Poster for the "Jovellanos" steamboat

Tourism, a phenomenon once reserved for the few, boomed in the mid-19th century. This led to the large-scale development of road transport and boat voyages to connect diverse points on the peninsula with other countries.

Poster for a voyage from Lisbon to Seville, via Huelva and La Rábida, on a ferry carrying both cars and foot passengers

The Ibero-American Exposition of 1929 in Seville as a tourist attraction.

Excursion down the Guadalquivir river in order to visit the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929 in Seville.

Bus on the Cádiz-Algeciras line

In the early 20th century, journeying by stagecoach was overtaken by motor vehicles for intercity travel. During that time, the first regular lines for passengers and merchandise were established.