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A panorama photo of the flotilla of small boats displayed hanging from the ceiling of the Museum's Main Hall.

A voyage of discovery


15 galleries, over five floors: exploring the influence of the sea on history and culture




Falmouth, on the South Cornwall coast, is a fitting setting for this journey of discovery to begin. The Museum is located on aptly named Discovery Quay, and is a vast, iconic building, home to exciting exhibitions and a wide range of galleries taking visitors on a journey through the influence of the sea on history and culture.

The building was custom designed and built on land that was once covered in the sheds of boat builders. These sheds inspired the design of the building which is covered in green oak. The building has the most fantastic, breathtaking views over Falmouth harbour.

The Boat Hall

Your voyage of discovery begins in the Boat Hall. Here you can orientate yourself in the building, admiring the hanging flotilla of small boats on display over your head.

The variety of boats around the world is staggering. From earliest times people have built rafts and logboats using whatever material was available, and have powered them by muscle, wind or engine. They are shaped by the people who make and use them and are used for working, fishing, rescue, ceremony, transporting people and goods. Each boat reflects its heritage.

Seek out the Ednamair, the tiny dinghy in which the Robertson family – five people and a friend – survived for 38 days in the Pacific after their yacht had been holed. This is one of the great ocean survival stories of modern times.

A photo of the Boat Hall at National Maritime Museum Cornwall. Some boats hang from the ceiling, others are positioned on the ground.

RNLI Rescue Zone

Beyond, in the RNLI Rescue Zone there are ride-on rescue vehicles, a dressing-up area and information about sea safety where we celebrate the outstanding work of the RNLI.

Photo of the Museum's RNLI Rescue Zone, featuring a quad bike, jet ski and a lifeboat dinghy.

RNLI Rescue Zone at National Maritime Museum Cornwall

Stanley and Ernest in the RNLI Rescue Zone

The Hold – our major temporary exhibition space

The Hold is our largest single exhibition space where we install our respected and renowned major exhibitions. Our aim is to curate ambitious and unexpected exhibitions developing partnership projects with national and international museums, bringing new connections with world cultures to Cornwall, and bringing ancient artefacts from national and international collections.

Current major exhibition

Pirates, running until December 2024.

Previous major exhibitions

2020 – 2023 Monsters of the Deep
2018 – 2019 Titanic Stories.
2017 Tattoo: British Tattoo Art Revealed and Captain Bligh: Myth, Man and Mutiny.
2016 Viking Voyagers.

The Viking Voyagers exhibition 2016 at The National Maritime Museum Cornwall in Falmouth. Photo by Paul Abbitt

The Viking Voyagers exhibition held in The Hold during 2016.

Flotilla

Flying across the top of the Boat Hall is our flotilla of small boats from The National Small Boat collection. Preserving a collection of international importance, including craft used for survival, work, competition, leisure, pleasure, exploration and war… from the Inuit kayak, a deadly hunter’s tool of skin and driftwood with an unbroken pedigree stretching back 10,000 years to the Mirror dinghy, as much a part of the ’60s social revolution as the Mini car.  The museum doesn’t just tell the story of inanimate objects – it relates the tales of the lives and the times of those who made and used them.

Flotilla at The National Maritime Museum Cornwall in Falmouth

Flotilla at National Maritime Museum Cornwall.

The Cornwall Galleries

In these galleries Cornwall’s unique maritime heritage can be explored over three floors, each focusing on different aspects of industry, work and communications.

The Falmouth Gallery – 2nd floor

Falmouth is the world’s third largest natural deep-water harbour and a sheltered haven for large ships. It was once the maritime hub of an Empire, so internationally important that in the 1880’s 25 countries had consular representatives here. Explore the maritime history of Britain’s first and last port of call: from the Packet ships of the late 17th century to the heyday of Falmouth’s port in the 19th century and right up to the present day with the record breaking achievements of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston and Dame Ellen MacArthur. Stepping into our Falmouth gallery is like stepping back in time. Falmouth’s incredible history is celebrated through objects, journals, listening posts, interpretation, photographs and interactive displays.

The Falmouth Packet Gallery at The National Maritime Museum Cornwall in Falmouth. Photo by Paul Abbitt

The Falmouth Gallery.

Cornwall and the Sea – 1st floor

Nowhere in Cornwall is more than 17 miles from the sea. This proximity has shaped both the landscape and its people. In this gallery you can discover how Cornish people have made a living from the sea, how local craft were built and who sailed in them. Exhibits explore Falmouth’s role in global communication and trade, along with the development of Cornwall’s migratory links around the world. Witness the stories of dramatic rescues off the Cornish coast.

The Cornwall and The Sea gallery at The National Maritime Museum Cornwall in Falmouth photo by Paul Abbitt

The Cornwall and The Sea gallery.

Cornish Quayside – ground floor

Enjoy an exhibition full of interactive and story-telling displays. Listen to tales of the lives of Cornish fishermen in their own words. Find out how sails were traditionally made and explore how pilchards were pressed in our reconstruction of a pilchard cellar.

The Cornish Quayside gallery at The National Maritime Museum Cornwall in Falmouth. Credit: Paul Abbitt

The Cornish Quayside gallery.

Tidal Zone

In the Tidal Zone you can go underwater and look out into the harbour through two large windows – if you stand there long enough you’ll see the tide rise and fall. Take a really close look and you could catch a glimpse of a cormorant diving after a fish, crabs, shrimps and much more. Here you can learn more about the effects of the Moon and Sun and what causes the tides. Interactive displays also introduce some of the animals and plants that live in the estuary, a Special Conservation Area with a wide diversity of species.

Head down to the Tidal Zone at The National Maritime Museum Cornwall

Head down to the Tidal Zone. 

The Tidal Zone at The National Maritime Museum Cornwall. Photo by Luke Hayes

The Tidal Zone.

Alfie and Noah with The Diver in The Tidal Zone at The National Maritime Museum Cornwall in Falmouth

Alfie and Noah with The Diver in The Tidal Zone.

Skull Island Play Zone

A young girl playing in the Skull Island Play Zone at National Maritime Museum Cornwall.

Let their imaginations run wild at the Skull Island Play Zone. Dress-up as pirates, watch-out for enemies and navigate the high seas.

The Lookout

Climb to the top of the tower for breathtaking views over the harbour, docks and estuary. Find out about historic buildings, local landmarks, coastal features, and special events and vessels in the harbour. Look north across the water toward the village of Flushing, former home of Packet Ship captains, or inland to the west and Custom House Quay where the customs used to land contraband goods seized from ships. There are binoculars and telescopes for you to use, and a series of maps so you can build up the history of the harbour and its surroundings.

The view from The Look Out Tower at The National Maritime Museum Cornwall in Falmouth

The view from The Lookout over Falmouth.

The Lookout Tower at The National Maritime Museum Cornwall in Falmouth

Abbie and Tia. The Lookout at National Maritime Museum Cornwall in Falmouth.

The Bartlett Maritime Research Centre and Library

The Museum’s research work is led by the Bartlett Maritime Research Centre which incorporates the Bartlett Library and the Peter and Julie Newall Library, a wonderful resource of books, archives and records on maritime matters. Find out more about The Bartlett Maritime Research Centre and Library.

National Maritime Museum Cornwall Library

The Bartlett and Maritime Research Centre and Library

The Bridge

The Bridge is the Museum’s temporary exhibition space and is home to a regularly changing programme of exhibitions.

The Pontoon

Experience even more of the sea on the Pontoon directly in front of the building. From here you can view the boats on the water.

The Sunley Lecture Theatre

Fitted with the latest audio-visual technology and an induction loop for hearing aid users this is where we hold our inspiring talks, presentations, conferences and films.

The Boat Pool

Sail model boats and even have a race.

Two young children play using the Museum's Boat Pool.

The boat pool at The National Maritime Museum Cornwall in Falmouth by Paul Abbitt

The boat pool at National Maritime Museum Cornwall in Falmouth.

Book now

National Maritime Museum
Cornwall Trust
Discovery Quay
Falmouth
Cornwall
TR11 3QY

Tel: +44(0)1326 313388

Email: enquiries@nmmc.co.uk