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News: Exhibitions

Artwork with 'Pirates: Explore Beneath The Surface' written across the top against a black, starry sky. A pirate ship sails across the water, silhouetted against the moon.

Running until Sunday 5 January.

Dashing, daring and adventurous or bloodthirsty, immoral and greedy – were pirates of the 18th century heroes of the age or no more than callous cutthroats?

Sunbeam 100

Friday 28 June 2024 – Sunday 4 May 2025.

An intimate exhibition celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Sunbeam one-design keelboat boat racing in Falmouth.

Resilience

Saturday 23 November 2024 – Sunday 4 January 2026.

An evocative, multi-media exhibition on the resilience of Cornwall’s coastal communities past, present and future.

The Museum at 20

2023 is a big year for National Maritime Museum Cornwall. It’s our 20th birthday and so we’re creating a brand new exhibition that takes a look at the highs and lows of our 20 year history.

SURF!

Friday 28 March 2025 – Jan 2027.

SURF! is the next major exhibition from National Maritime Museum Cornwall, celebrating a century of surfing in Cornwall.

Small Boats, Big Stories

Our new presentation of the Boat Hall highlights the role that small boats play in shaping the world we live in.

A black and white scan of a festive postcard with the words 'hands across the sea' on it. Two people are shaking hands, underneath their hands is a picture of waves crashing against rocks and people pointing at the sea.

Hands Across the Sea Christmas Postcard

This festive postcard is part of the Museum’s archive collection and was sent across the sea from the Isles of Scilly in 1908.

A photo of a lead grape shot recovered from the Hanover wreck. Pictured on a white surface.

The Treasure of the Hanover

In 1994, Cornish diver Colin Martin found the Hanover wreck after seven years of searching. Learn more about the tragedy and what objects were recovered.