This is a sprawling exhibition of maritime history and Gdańsk's role through the centuries as a Baltic seaport. Headquarters is the multimillion-euro Maritime Cultural Centre, with a permanent interactive exhibition 'People-Ships-Ports'. Other exhibitions include the MS Sołdek , the first vessel to be built at the Gdańsk shipyard in the postwar years, and the Żuraw , a 15th-century loading crane that was the biggest in its day. The granaries across the river house more displays, which are highly recommended.
These exhibits on Ołowianka Island in the Motława River illustrate the history of Polish seafaring from the earliest times to the present. They include models of old sailing warships and ports, a 9th-century dugout, navigation instruments, ships’ artillery, flags and the like.
Another interesting exhibit here is a collection of salvaged items from the General Carleton , a British ship that mysteriously disappeared in the Baltic in 1785.
The museum's ferry service (per trip 1.50zł, free with ticket for all sites), shuttles between the crane and the island.
