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 The
National Maritime Museum shows Britain's seafaring heritage.
In the museum there are boats,
model boats, boat relics and the largest collection of marine
art in the world. The galleries combine traditional
exhibits with interactive elements to show the long maritime
history of Britain.
At the centre Neptune Court,
opened in 1999, a glass-covered space with galleries on four
sides around a central display area.
A colour-coded floor plan acts
as a guide through through the themed exhibitions.
The main themes are:
'Maritime London', a gallery
which uses prints, lithographs and video installations to
illustrate London's maritime history, showing it's present
role as the financial centre of the shipping industry.
Two 'Explorers' sections tracing
early journeys of discovery by the Polynesians and Vikings
and navigation and marine archaeology.
'Rank & Style' illustrates
how naval costumes changed fashions.
'Art and the Sea' section gives
the role of the sea in European art.
The Nelson Gallery is one of
the most popular. Dedicated to the naval hero, it traces Nelson's
achievements at sea, as well as his life at home. The
display showing the Battle of Trafalgar includes JMW Turner's
painting of the battle, his largest work, and the uniform
Nelson was wearing when he was fatally wounded on October
1805. The bullet hole and blood stains can still be
clearly seen.
'All Hands' and the 'Bridge'
galleries have interactive displays for children, and adults!,
on flags, Morse code or radio.
One unusual, but amazing display
is the royal barges in the basement. Prince Frederick's barge,
1732, is the most noticeable, with gilded mermaids, shells,
garlands and his Prince of Wales feathers.
 Also
on the museum site is the Queen's House, designed in 1616
by Inigo Jones, the first house in Britain to be built in
the Palladian style.
Admission Free
- admission charges apply to special exhibitions and events
within the Museum, the Royal Observatory and the Queen's House.
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