The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England, consists of three sites showcasing the relationship between the sea, ships, and stars. The Maritime Galleries display collections of ships and seafaring life, the Royal Observatory educates visitors about astronomy and navigation, and the Queen’s House displays maritime paintings and portraits. The museum is publicly funded and offers educational exhibits, guided tours, and community involvement. It also houses the largest maritime historical reference library in the world. Visitors can experience the confluence of maritime history, art, and science and explore humanity’s past and current relationship with the sea.
The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England comprises three separate sites that highlight the relationship between the sea, ships and the stars. The Maritime Galleries house collections showcasing ships and seafaring life. The Royal Observatory strives to educate visitors about astronomy and navigation. Maritime paintings and portraits are displayed in the Queen’s House, a former royal residence built between 1614 and 1617. The National Maritime Museum’s total collection comprises more than two million items.
The museum, part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site, was created by the British government in 1934 with the passage of the National Maritime Act. The site is located within the 200-acre (0.81 square kilometre) Greenwich Royal Park in London, England. It is sponsored and administered by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport under a board of trustees and does not charge admission because it is publicly funded. Large donations from Sir James Caird helped establish the project and the museum was officially opened in 1937 by King George VI, accompanied by his daughter, Elizabeth, who was herself crowned in 1952.
The Maritime Galleries feature models of all types of ships and shipyards as well as navigational equipment throughout history. Navigational instruments such as diptych dials, horizontal dials and first compasses are also on display. Figureheads, weapons and flags are also present, as are uniforms. This building also houses nautical items from other cultures.
The Queen’s House is a classical building and former royal residence housing maritime art and portraits of important seafarers. Visitors can experience works by Gainsborough, Lely and Hogarth, among others. The house is sometimes used to host important guests, and as a result parts of the building are occasionally closed to the public. The architecture of the building with its tulip staircases and grand hall can be as interesting as the works it houses.
Also part of the National Maritime Museum is the Royal Observatory, home to Greenwich Mean Time and the Prime Meridian. In addition, the observatory houses London’s only planetarium. The galleries feature educational exhibits on the formation of the universe, astrophotography, and timekeeping. King Charles II commissioned the observatory in 1675. As basic scientific work continues elsewhere, this original Greenwich site is now primarily a tourist attraction.
In addition to nautical and nautical-themed works, the National Maritime Museum houses the largest maritime historical reference library in the world. Texts dating back to the 15th century are among the more than 15 volumes and official documents in the museum. Items from this collection are seen throughout the UK and abroad as part of an active loan and outreach programme.
Education and community involvement are important aspects of the National Maritime Museum’s overall mission. The observatory hosts skywatch events. Climate change exhibits seek to educate the public about the sea as a vulnerable resource and force of nature. The museum welcomes groups and schools, offering guided tours and other activities.
The museum features several types of restaurants and gift shops, and the surrounding grounds include gardens and courtyards. By visiting all three buildings of the National Maritime Museum, people can experience the confluence of maritime history, art and science. The relationship between these areas helps illuminate how power over the sea and the stars could lead to conquest and empire. Visitors will explore humanity’s past and current relationship with the sea, as well as the future of marine life and its impact on the world’s oceans.
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