Scottish Maritime Museum, Maritime museum in Irvine and Dumbarton, Scotland
The Scottish Maritime Museum operates at two separate locations with vessels, marine engines, and machinery from Scotland's shipbuilding past. Each site holds distinct collections that together show the full story of how this industry developed and worked.
The Irvine location opened in 1991 within a former machinery workshop that once served a major shipyard. The Dumbarton site roots back to 1883 and housed testing facilities that supported the shipbuilding trade.
The museum displays how ships were constructed and how people lived within this working world. Workshop spaces and household items reveal the daily routines of the workers and their families who depended on the shipyards.
Visitors should know that the two locations display different collections, making it worthwhile to visit both sites. Access is governed by set opening hours, so it helps to check ahead before planning your visit.
Dumbarton houses a historic basin that was built for testing and experimenting with ship models and attracted engineers from around the world. This testing facility was a rare research tool for the industry and put the region's technical skill on the map.
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