From fuel station to museum
Story of Darvazeh Dowlat Gas Station
Gas stations have a rich history, serving as crucial providers of fuel for vehicles. Initially, gasoline was sold in pharmacies, with Bertha Benz famously fueling her car at one in 1888. The world’s first dedicated gas station opened in 1905 in St. Louis, Missouri. In Tehran, the Darvazeh Dowlat Gas Station Museum, established in 1940 and operational until 1995, highlights this history. Built by the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, it distributed various petroleum products and features traditional architecture with arched vaults and colorful tiles. After years of abandonment, it was repurposed as a museum in 2019 and recognized as a national heritage site in 2014, reflecting the cultural significance of gas stations in the evolution of transportation.
See pages 4-5