National Maritime Museum Cornwall
Address
National Maritime Museum Cornwall Discovery Quay Falmouth Cornwall TR11 3QY
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The Flotilla
Your voyage of discovery begins in the Boat Hall, where you can orientate yourself in the building, admiring the hanging flotilla of small boats on display over your head.
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.
SURF!
100 years of waveriding in Cornwall.
Along the 422 miles of exposed Cornish coastline, waves tear and tumble towards land, shaping the peninsula – and its people. Exposure to the Atlantic Ocean’s barrelling swells has led to a strong and enduring tie to the sea for so many who live here.
SURF!, the next major exhibition from National Maritime Museum Cornwall, celebrates a century of surfing in Cornwall, and reveals how the county has become a global stage for surf innovation, activism and a trailblazer in blue health. It explores how Cornish surf culture has influenced music, film, fashion and art with unseen works by leading contemporary artists including Damien Hirst and Abigail Fallis. Through 100 surfboards, the exhibition uncovers the hidden histories of once unknown female surfers, reveals the 1920s pioneers who led the way and spotlights the surf champions made here today.
Just as the thrashing waves shape the Cornish landscape, Cornwall’s communities have helped shape an entire industry.
This major exhibition runs from March 28 2025 - Jan 2027.
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