Museum of Ancient Shipbuilding

The Museum of Ancient Shipbuilding displays Roman military vessels, ship models, and maritime artifacts from excavations in a converted locomotive engine shed near the Rhine. The building features observation windows overlooking workshops where craftspeople construct full-size replicas of ancient ships.

Construction workers uncovered five Roman military ships dating to the late 3rd and 4th centuries during excavations in Mainz between 1981 and 1982. These discoveries revealed the strategic importance of the Rhine as a transportation route and defensive boundary for the Roman Empire.

The exhibition reveals daily life of Roman sailors on the Rhine through carved grave inscriptions, personal letters, and military records displayed throughout the space. These written accounts provide direct insight into how people experienced service in the river fleet.

The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday when visitors can observe craftspeople actively working on ship reconstructions through viewing windows. Its location near the Rhine makes it easily accessible and offers opportunities to explore the riverbank during your visit.

Two full-size reconstructions of Roman military vessels were built using construction methods pieced together from studying the actual shipwrecks on display. These working examples demonstrate how Roman engineers solved practical shipbuilding challenges centuries ago.