A unique celebration of the sea
Beginnings
National Maritime Museum Cornwall is a fully independent museum, a development of the original FIMI (Falmouth International Maritime Initiative) partnership created in 1992, and the result of collaboration between Royal Museums Greenwich, and the former Cornwall Maritime Museum in Falmouth.
The National Small Boat Collection
Royal Museums Greenwich owns an impressive collection of small boats – some 120 craft of historical significance from Britain and overseas. For years, its Trustees had been seeking a suitable waterfront location in which to create an imaginative and dynamic showcase for the boats, many of which can still be sailed. Falmouth, offering a waterside location, rich nautical heritage and one of the world’s finest harbours, was a natural choice.
The Cornwall Maritime Museum
The Cornwall Maritime Museum evolved from a collection reflecting Cornwall’s rich maritime history gathered over 150 years by the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society. In 1981, this collection was brought together as the Falmouth Maritime Museum, later changing to the Cornwall Maritime Museum. Since then, the collection has grown and prospered.
Both museums applied separately to the Heritage Lottery Fund for assistance in developing their ideas. At the Fund’s suggestion, the two began talks that culminated in the formation of a joint venture to create a single entity. Although owing a great deal to both sponsoring museums, the new undertaking was to be independent, with its own governing body, financially self-supporting, and most importantly with displays to reflect its location and market.
A new Charitable Trust was created to oversee the project. In addition to the HLF, funding for National Maritime Museum Cornwall has come from the South West Regional Development Agency, the European Regional Development Fund (5b funding programme), individuals, and corporate sponsors.
Our building
The landmark building was designed by architects Long & Kentish, following a countrywide competition run by Cornwall County Council in 1996.
Unusually, both architects and designers were appointed at a very early stage in the project and worked closely together throughout the development, resulting in a building and exhibitions that are sympathetic to each other’s needs, the local environment, the local communities and the people who visit the county.
That has been achieved, in part, through design influenced by the site’s past as a boatbuilding yard, employing long-used and well-proved materials – granite, slate and green oak boarding, clad by master shipwrights, which will weather over the years from glowing gold to soft silver.
Some highlights
- 2003 – Museum opens.
- 2004 – Will to Win Olympic exhibition opens.
- 2005 – Team Phillips, Ellen MacArthur, + Virgin welcomes Ollie Hicks.
- 2006 – Endurance and Survival exhibition opens.
- 2007 – Your Falmouth and Survival Zone opens.
- 2008 – Under the Sea exhibition opens.
- 2011 – On Thin Ice exhibition opens.
- 2012 – Search and Rescue exhibition opens.
- 2013 – We celebrate our 10th birthday.
- 2015 – Viking Voyagers exhibition opens.
- 2016 – The Great Big Cornish Gig Project launches.
- 2017 – Tattoo: British Tattoo Art Revealed and Captain Bligh: Myth, Man and Mutiny exhibitions open.
- 2018 – Titanic Stories exhibition opens.
- 2019 – RNLI Rescue Zones opens and the Heritage Boat Tours start.
- 2020 – Monsters of The Deep: Science Fact and Fiction exhibition opens
- 2023 – Pirates exhibition opens.
Award-winning
The quality and creativity of our learning programme and visitor experience has been recognised in a number of prestigious awards. Here are just some of them…
- 2024 – Finalist – Best Online Shop, Association of Cultural Enterprises.
- 2022 – Winner – Healthy Team, Cornwall Heritage Awards.
- 2021 – The Sandford Award – for the outstanding quality of our education work.
- 2020 – Shortlisted, Museums Change Lives Awards, Museums Association.
- 2020 – Silver – Large Visitor Attraction of the Year, Cornwall Tourism Awards.
- 2017 – Best Gallery – What’s on Cornwall Awards.
- 2014 – Winner – The Telegraph Family Friendly Museum Award, Kids in Museums.
- 2014 – Learning outside the classroom quality badge.
- 2014 – Marsh Trust Award.
- 2014 – Silver – Best UK Heritage Attraction, British Travel Awards.
- 2014 – Best Museum in Cornwall, Cornwall Today Awards.
- 2013 – Silver – Best UK Heritage Attraction, British Travel Awards.
- 2011 – Volunteer Host – Cornwall Celebrates Volunteering.
- 2005 – ADAPT Trust Awards for Excellence in Access for Disabled People.
- 2004 – Nominated for a Silver Award for the most outstanding environmental design.
