Maritime Museum: How and when to book free tickets
‘HIGH LEVELS OF INTEREST’: The Maritime Museum. Picture credit: Tom Arran Photography
By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor
Free tickets for the grand reopening of Hull Maritime Museum will be available to book from 10am on Monday, July 13.
The museum, the centrepiece of the Hull Maritime project, will open to the public on Saturday, August 8 following a £20.4m restoration.
Among the attractions waiting to be seen for the first time are an engraved whale tooth and a 15-foot American flag helping to tell the extraordinary 130-year story of Hull’s great whaling ship Truelove.
REMARKABLE STORY: A colour print of Hull whaler Truelove from 1801
Built in Philadelphia in 1764, the Truelove survived capture during the American War of Independence before being converted into a Hull whaler. She completed more than 70 Arctic voyages, escaped one of the worst ice disasters in whaling history and returned to the city where she was built 109 years later, where local people presented her captain with a commemorative flag.
She remained in service long after the age of sail had given way to steam-powered whaling.
Now, for the first time, two of the most important surviving objects connected with the ship will be displayed together: a rare scrimshaw sperm whale tooth engraved with an image of the Truelove, and the 15-foot flag presented to Captain Thomas Weatherill by the people of Philadelphia in 1873.
CAREFUL WORK: Restoration of the Truelove flag presented to Captain Thomas Weatherill in Philadelphia in 1873
Following painstaking conservation, the flag will be displayed in a bespoke display case in the new atrium, while the engraved whale tooth will go on show in the museum’s Age of Sail gallery.
The Truelove objects are among hundreds of treasures covering many more stories within Hull’s maritime heritage going on display. The museum’s transformational restoration reimagines it for 21st century and celebrates more than 800 years of Hull’s maritime heritage.
Due to expected high levels of interest, visitors are encouraged to book in advance to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience at the museum. Booking the free tickets will help to reduce queueing and secure visitors’ entry time, while allowing staff to maximise visitor numbers and allow everyone to explore the facility at their own pace.
INTRICATE: A sperm whale tooth carved by J. Penn in 1852. Picture credit: Hull Maritime Museum
Located in the former Town Dock Offices in Queen Victoria Square, the museum is a Grade II* listed landmark. First opened in 1871, it stands as a testament to the city’s historic importance as one of Britain's busiest ports, when ships once sailed directly past its doors.
The newly launched museum features 25 galleries and exhibition spaces, displaying more objects than before. Alongside familiar favourites, visitors will discover newly revealed stories, immersive experiences and important recent acquisitions that shine a fresh light on Hull’s relationship with the sea.
A new community exhibition will celebrate the contribution local people have made to the Hull Maritime project over the past six years. The museum also includes a new environmentally-controlled temporary exhibition gallery, designed to national museum standards, enabling Hull to host major loans and touring exhibitions for the first time.
GENTLY DOES IT: The flag during restoration
Councillor Mike Ross, leader of Hull City Council, said: “The reopening of Hull Maritime Museum marks a major milestone for the city. This transformation ensures that our maritime heritage can be explored and enjoyed in new and engaging ways, and we look forward to welcoming visitors back through the doors of this iconic building.”
Eilish McGuinness, chief executive at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Boasting stunning architecture and an amazing collection of maritime heritage treasures, the reopening of Hull Maritime Museum is definitely a date to mark in your calendars.
“It’s fantastic news that people from the city and further afield can now get their hands on tickets to visit the revamped attraction. We’re incredibly proud to have supported its regeneration thanks to money raised by National Lottery players.”
ON DISPLAY: The Truelove flag in the atrium
The redevelopment has been funded by Hull City Council and The National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of the wider Hull Maritime project, preserving and celebrating the city's seafaring heritage.
Hull Maritime Museum will be open:
Monday to Saturday: 10am–4.30pm
Sunday: 11am–4pm
Admission is free.
Visitors are encouraged to plan their visit and book tickets via hullmaritimemuseum.co.uk. While walk-up visitors will be welcome, pre-booking is recommended to avoid waiting times.