Museum of Liverpool

The Museum of Liverpool stands on Pier Head in Liverpool, England, on the Mersey waterfront beside the Three Graces. It opened in July 2011 and is part of National Museums Liverpool, replacing earlier museums of city life. The building was designed by the Danish practice 3XN, with a pale limestone-clad form and large glazed ends that frame views of the river and the historic buildings, and it is among the largest newly built national museums in Britain for a century. The permanent displays tell the story of the city from its medieval origins, through its rise as a port, to its modern identity. The Great Port gallery covers trade, the docks and the Liverpool Overhead Railway, of which a surviving carriage is displayed. The People's Republic explores Liverpool's politics, social movements and everyday life. Wondrous Place examines the city's music, football and popular culture, including the Beatles and Merseybeat, with objects, film and costume. Little Liverpool is a play area for the under-sevens. Other displays cover migration, housing, the Blitz and the city's industries. The museum takes a thematic approach rather than a strict chronology, mixing large objects such as a locomotive and a carriage with film, oral history and interactive displays. Because the building is new, there is no restoration history, though it is regularly updated with temporary exhibitions. The museum is free to enter, includes a cafe and viewing areas on the upper floors, and is a natural starting point for understanding Liverpool before visiting other sites. Most visitors spend two to three hours.