Museum blog

Discover what to see in the night sky during August 2019, including the spectacular Perseid meteor shower.

My dad is a diehard Union man and in his working life, was heavily involved in negotiations for better contracts for civic employees. Our family heard a lot about the discussions and the delicate balance of arguing for fair recompense and the importance of the union for the working man. In the case of the Mercantile Marine, the journal collection at the National Maritime Museum holds numerous copies of 'The Seaman' although the early copies have distinct titles. This publication records the activities and decisions surrounding the Merchant Navy and its workforce.

John Dee (1527-1609) was a philosopher and scholar whose work during the Tudor period has been overshadowed by his alleged sorcerous and occultist activities. He is best known for having conversations with angels through his scryer Edward Kelley's interests in astrology, alchemy, calendar reform and suggesting the date for Queen Elizabeth's coronation. What John Dee may not be as well known for is his influence on English navigation and being the first person to coin the term 'British Empire'.

Find out more about one of the most detailed maps of the Moon ever created.

Are you interested in family or local history? Do you like visiting churches or are you interested in the lives and deaths of seafarers? Explore our Maritime Memorials database.

In the Armada Portrait, Elizabeth I is adorned with multiple strings of pearls, sumptuous velvets, silk ribbons and gold embossed designs. It is a painting packed with symbolic meaning - and Renaissance bling!

In this blog we recall how the nation bid farewell to Nelson and look at the life of the Garter King of Arms, Sir Isaac Heard (1730-1822), who organized the procession and ceremony.