The collection is composed of more than 35,000 maritime items including ship models, scrimshaw, maritime paintings, decorative arts, intricately carved figureheads, navigational instruments, working steam engines, and hundreds of artifacts from the Civil War ironclad USS Monitor, including its steam engine, propeller, and gun turret.

The Mariners' Museum offers programs for students around the world and activities for families around the corner. Whether it's learning about the Age of Exploration or hearing a lecture, there's something for everyone.

The Museum itself includes 120,000 square feet of gallery space, including the prestigious International Small Craft Center and the award-winning USS Monitor Center. This state-of-the-art permanent exhibition and conservation lab houses 210 tons of artifacts from the Civil War ironclad Monitor, recovered from NOAA's Monitor National Marine Sanctuary.

The Museum sits in an urban oasis: The 550-acre Mariners' Museum Park is home to the 167-acre Mariners' Lake and the Noland Trail - a five-mile shoreline trail with 14 bridges. The Park and Lake offer local residents and visitors to the area the opportunity to experience the beauty and peace of an oasis in the city.

The Mariners’ Museum Library holds the largest maritime history collection in the Western Hemisphere. With its rich collections and international scope, the Library is a premier resource for maritime research. The Library houses over 78,000 volumes; 800,000 photographs, films, and negatives; and over one million pieces of archival material, making it the largest maritime library in the Western Hemisphere. The Library is also home to the boatbuilding archives of Chris-Craft Industries.

Most materials are currently in storage, but there are plans to build a space to house the Library and Archives in the future.

Access:

Appointment required: False

Host one of The Mariners' Museum's traveling exhibitions. Choose from a range of topics to appeal to your institution and visitors. Contact us for contents, space requirements, fees, and scheduling information

Visit our spacious Gift Shop during your visit to find the perfect present for your family, that great coworker, teacher, or friend. From toys and stylish apparel to contemporary jewelry, books, and souvenirs inspired by the nautical collections of The Mariners’ Museum, we offer an array of collectible treasures to truly make your voyage memorable.

The Mariners' Museum is perfectly suited for groups of all ages! Just 10 visitors qualify for our special group rate, and with a minimum of two hours, your group can enjoy the Museum and its rich and varied maritime stories.

The Mariners' Museum and Park is no stranger to hosting some of the region's most elegant events. We have space for a wide variety of events including wedding ceremonies, receptions, military ceremonies, seminars, lectures, board meetings, conferences, fundraisers, and holiday parties. Whether formal or informal, cocktail party or black-tie dinner, large or small, we can help make your event memorable.