Maritime Museum, Maritime Museum in Palais de la Bourse, Marseille, France
The Maritime Museum was housed in the Palais de la Bourse and displayed ships, navigation tools, artwork, and maritime artifacts from Marseille's seafaring past. Before closing in 2018, it held thousands of objects spanning centuries of the city's connection to the sea.
The institution began in 1934 as a merchant marine collection and survived World War II, though many pieces were dispersed during the conflict. It found a permanent home in the Palais de la Bourse starting in 1969.
The museum showcased Marseille's connection to the sea through displays about local shipping, commerce, and harbor life that shaped the city. Visitors could see how these maritime activities were woven into the community's daily rhythms and identity.
After closing in 2018, the collections were moved to several institutions including MUCEM and other museums around Marseille. Visitors interested in the maritime collections can now explore these different locations throughout the city.
In 2022, the Aix-Marseille Chamber of Commerce auctioned off several artworks from the museum's former collection. This unusual event marked the final chapter for pieces that had been part of the city's collection for decades.
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