Merseyside Maritime Museum

Seized! Revenue & Customs Uncovered

When you drop anchor at Merseyside Maritime Museum don’t miss Seized! Revenue & Customs Uncovered - a permanent gallery unveiling attempts at smuggling and tax evasion that have kept our Customs Officers on their toes over the years! The exhibition focuses on detective work, fighting crime, patrolling frontiers, catching criminals, undercover surveillance and an insight into the motives of the bad guys. Visitors can see items used for drugs smuggling such as carved African statues and garden gnomes, a chilling collection of smuggled weapons, and an emotive display of tourist souvenirs made out of endangered species.

Suitable for

• Family friendly
• All ages

When

10am-5pm

Trafficked

An exhibition highlighting the ongoing struggle to combat human trafficking around the world, through the experiences of people whose lives have been affected by this modern day slave trade.
Today millions of men, women, and children are being tricked or transported into slavery across the globe. It is the fastest growing form of organised crime and one of the largest money earners for criminals.
It’s not just someone else, somewhere else. It’s happening right here, right now, across the UK.
This exhibition has been put together by the international coalition STOP THE TRAFFIK in partnership with the International Slavery Museum.

Suitable for

• All ages

When

10am-5pm

Where

International Slavery Museum

Admission

Free admission

Hello Sailor! Gay life on the ocean wave

Hello Sailor! looks at life on board passenger and merchant ships from the 1950s to 1980s, a time when homosexuality was illegal and for gay men there were few places to be safe. Personal stories and mementoes give a glimpse of what life was like for gay men at sea.

Based on research carried out for the book 'Hello Sailor! The Hidden History of Gay Life at Sea' by Jo Stanley and Paul Baker, the exhibition reveals a little known aspect of the history of the merchant navy. Please note that the end date may be extended.

Suitable for

• All ages

When

10am-5pm

Where

Merseyside Maritime Museum

Admission

Free admission

China: Through the Lens of John Thomson (1868-1872)

This is the first exhibition in England of photographs of 19th century China taken by the legendary Scottish photographer and travel writer John Thomson (1837-1921).
Unlike most photographers working in the Far East at that time, Thomson was not a government official, nor a missionary. He was a professional photographer who was fascinated by China. Thomson possessed an open mind and was sensitive to the lives and surroundings of his subjects. He was able to capture people and street life in a most natural way. His photographs form a unique archive documenting 19th century China's landscapes, architecture, people and customs.

Suitable for

• All ages

When

10am-5pm

Where

Merseyside Maritime Museum

Admission

Free admission

The Endurance: Shackleton's legendary Antarctic adventure

A landmark exhibition about an incredible real life tale of survival, the epic story of Sir Ernest Shackleton's 1914 Endurance expedition.
The exhibition features about 150 compelling photographs of the expedition's ordeal taken by ship photographer Frank Hurley, who dove into frigid waters to retrieve his glass plate negatives from the sinking Endurance. The photographs, printed from the original negatives and Hurley's album of prints, are accompanied by gripping memoirs from the voyage.

Suitable for

• All ages

When

10am-5pm

Where

Merseyside Maritime Museum

Admission

Free admission