Essential Information

Type Talks and tours
Location
National Maritime Museum
Date and Times Saturday 15 February 2025 | 1.15pm-2.15pm
Prices Free

Join historian and guide John Wilson for a British Sign Language (BSL) tour about animals, taking place in the Pacific Encounters and Sea Things galleries at the National Maritime Museum.

Do you think that cats and water don't mix? Think again! The majority of sailing ships had at least one ship's cat aboard – sometimes more than one. There are many stories of brave, loyal, funny and legendary cats on ships.

one page of a photo album with 5 photos showing ship's pets aboard ship
A page of a photo album showing ship's pets aboard ship

We don't just talk about cats; discover why Captain Cook always took a goat with him on his expeditions, how birds are teaching humans how to navigate, and more.

You'll also discover more about the rich symbology used on ship's badges – some realistic, some mythological. Sometimes it’s obvious why an image was chosen, but sometimes a bit of code-cracking is needed!

Important information

This tour is designed for D/deaf people who are BSL users. There is no English voiceover.

Tour information

Meeting point

The tour will meet at the Information Desk, located just inside the Parkside entrance to the National Maritime Museum.

How long will the tour last?

The tour will last 60 minutes.

Who is the tour suitable for?

The tour is suitable for adults. It is designed for D/deaf people who are BSL users. There is no English voiceover.

Tour locations

The tour takes place in the Pacific Encounters and the Sea Things galleries, located on the first floor of the National Maritime Museum. Step-free access is available via lifts.

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