National Maritime Museum Cornwall

National Maritime Museum Cornwall

The National Maritime Museum Cornwall is a large, modern museum detailing the rich maritime history of Cornwall. The museum is a collaboration between the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich and the former Cornwall Maritime Museum. At the core of the museum is the National Small Boat Collection of over 200 small sailing vessels of historic significance from both Britain and abroad.

Special collections include boats, maritime art, models, photographs, and extensive archives covering British vessels over the past several centuries, with a special focus on Cornwall. The museum is home to the Royal Society of Marine Artists, Diploma Collection, and exhibits over 90 works of maritime art from the Society.

The museum offers a constantly changing programme of special events, exhibitions, and lectures on maritime themes. Recent events include an exhibition of undersea exploration and a look back at the final days of windjammers.

The museum is wonderful for families; children will enjoy a series of interactive displays, including one that lets them take charge of a radio-controlled sailing ship and attempt to navigate according to the wind direction and strength. Other displays give a real flavour of what life was like in an old Cornish fishing village.