In 1937 the old railway station that initially was built in 1873 was torn down to be replaced by a new building. This railway station was built from 1938 to 1940. On July 26, 1963 a heavy earthquake occurred in Skopje, North Macedonia, killing and injuring many people and causing severe damage to the city of Skopje. One of the many buildings that were severly damaged was the former railway station. Only 1/3 of the building survived. The earthquake happened 5:17 am local time. The clock on the building is still showing that time, because it stopped at the earthquake and it was decided to not repair it and keep the time to remember the catastrophe. It was also decided to not tore down the right wing of the railway station, but instead use the remains for housing the Museum of the City of Skopje. On the left side of the entrance a round information board offers more information about the history in four languages:
Railway Station (1873-1937)
First railway line in Macedonia was launched on 9th August 1873 running from Skope to Thessalonica. The same year marked the construction of the first railway station in Skopje. It was built at the foot of the Vodno in the south part of the town called Karshijak, which was hardly populated. In 1937 this old building was ruined due to the need for construction of a modern station. A new railway station was built at the same place corresponding to the needs of the modern life.
Railway Station (1940-1963)
Construction of the Railway Station lasted from 1938 to 1940. Architect Velimir Gavrilovic worked out the project for its construction. Special emphasis was put on the central structure with a gallery on the upper floor designed under Byzantine influence. The area below the dome was decorated with frescoes showing scenes from the National Liberation War painted by Borko Lazeski. The interior was paved with marble and walls were also tiled with marble tablets. It was one of the most beautiful and most modern railway stations in the Balkans. The central part of the building collapsed in the earthquake on 26th July 1963 and the left wing suffered major damages. Only the right wing, i.e., one third of the structure has been preserved till the present day.
Museum of the City of Skopje
The right wing of the Railway Station was not torn down after the earthquake on 26th July 1963. It was decided to be used for housing the Museum of the City of Skopje. Consolidation and adaptation of the structure began in 1968. The for-project for the Museum was designed by the architect Prof. Gjuka Kavuric. The for-project and the main construction project-plan were carried out by graduated engineer Svetislav Petrovic. In autumn 1970 the Museum of the City of Skopje moved into the preserved part of the adapted building measuring a total surface of 4.670 m². The town acquired modern urban premises that enabled the Museum to perform complex museum activities.
After the heavy earthquake in 1963 a proclamation of Marshal Tito, then-president of SFR Yugoslavia, was preserved on a metal plaque that is attached to the building (right of the entrance of the now museum). The translation says:
"Skopje experienced an unprecedented catastrophe, but we will rebuild Skopje. With the help of our entire community, it will become a pride and a symbol of brotherhood and unity, of Yugoslav and world solidarity."
July 27, 1963
Tito
Another marble plaque gives further information about the history of this place:
This place was the first railway station Skopje from 1873. This building as a former railway station was completed on December 1, 1940. It was mined and damaged during the withdrawal of the occupier on November 13, 1944. On July 16, 1954, the first session of the Workers' Council of Skopje and Zagreb was held. In the catastrophic earthquake of July 26, 1963 it was destroyed.