Kelvin Hall facts for kids
The Kelvin Hall is a large and historic building in Glasgow, Scotland. It's located on Argyle Street in the Yorkhill area. Opened in 1927, it was one of the biggest exhibition centers in Britain. Over the years, it has been used for many different things. It was a concert hall, a major sports arena, and even home to Glasgow's Museum of Transport for many years. Today, Kelvin Hall is a busy place for arts, culture, and sports. It's considered a special building and is protected because of its history. You can easily get there by bus or the Kelvinhall subway station.
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History of Kelvin Hall
The Kelvin Hall stands by the River Kelvin, right across from the famous Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. It was designed to fit in with the beautiful Kelvingrove Park nearby. The huge building, made of red sandstone and steel, was finished in 1927.
Before this building, there was an older, temporary Kelvin Hall. It was built in 1918 for the British Industries Fair. This first hall was later used by the military. Then, the city of Glasgow bought it. It hosted many fairs, shows, circuses, and carnivals until it was destroyed by a fire in 1925.
The new Kelvin Hall, which covers about 6 acres, was built between 1926 and 1927. It was designed by Thomas Somers, who was Glasgow's Master of Work and City Engineer. King George V officially opened the new Kelvin Hall on July 12, 1927.
Past Uses of Kelvin Hall
Exhibitions and Concerts
Kelvin Hall has hosted many exciting events. It held big concerts, trade shows, and medical conferences. There were also car shows, modern homes exhibitions, and sports events. Famous boxing matches and rock concerts took place here. The Royal Scottish National Orchestra even held their "Proms" concerts at Kelvin Hall for many years. From the 1920s to the 1980s, the annual Kelvin Hall Circus was a popular event, featuring lions, tigers, and elephants.
During World War II, the building was used as a factory. Workers there made special balloons called barrage balloons, which helped protect cities from air attacks. In 1955, a famous speaker named Billy Graham gave talks there for six weeks. Many people came to listen to him.
The Kelvin Hall was also a big venue for music. The Kinks, a famous band, even recorded a live album there in 1967. Other well-known artists like Elton John, Yes, and Tangerine Dream also performed at Kelvin Hall.
Former Museum of Transport
From 1988 to 2010, the Glasgow Museum of Transport was located inside Kelvin Hall. It was a very popular museum, attracting up to 500,000 visitors each year. It displayed many important vehicles and transport items. In June 2011, the museum moved to a new building called the Riverside Museum at Glasgow Harbour.
International Sports Arena
Kelvin Hall also had an international sports arena. It hosted many athletic events, boxing matches, badminton tournaments, and volleyball competitions. The Scottish Rocks, a professional basketball team, played their games there for four years, from 2008 to 2012. After that, they moved to the Commonwealth Arena.
Kelvin Hall Today
Arts, Culture, and Fitness Centre
In 2016, a big project costing £35 million transformed part of Kelvin Hall. It is now a modern center for art, culture, and health and fitness activities. This project is a partnership between Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Life, the University of Glasgow, and the National Library of Scotland. It offers a wide range of activities for everyone to enjoy.
TV and Film Studio
A new TV and film studio opened in Kelvin Hall in 2022. This studio, which cost £11.9 million, is operated by BBC Studioworks. It includes production and editing rooms, dressing rooms, meeting spaces, and a cafe. It's a place where TV shows and movies can be made, bringing more creative work to Glasgow.
See also
In Spanish: Kelvin Hall para niños
