Imperial War Museum North

Imperial War Museum North stands on Trafford Wharf Road in Trafford Park, beside the Manchester Ship Canal and across from Salford Quays, in Greater Manchester, England. The building, designed by the architect Daniel Libeskind and opened in July 2002, is one of the Imperial War Museum's five branches and the only one in the north of England. Its aluminium-clad form represents a globe shattered into three interlocking shards, symbolising conflict on land, in the air and on water, and the Air Shard rises about 55 metres with a viewing platform. The museum examines how war shapes lives, drawing on the national collection of objects, documents, photographs and personal testimony from the First World War to contemporary conflicts. The main space, the Main Exhibition Space, contains a timeline around the walls and large exhibits such as a Harrier jump jet, a field gun and a section of the twisted steel from the World Trade Center. Every hour, the Big Picture show projects images and sound across the walls of the hall, creating an immersive account of themes such as the impact of war on civilians. The curatorial approach is thematic rather than strictly chronological, concentrating on personal stories and the experience of conflict, and temporary exhibitions examine topics such as propaganda, photography and displacement. The architecture is notable in itself, with sloping floors, angled walls and a deliberate sense of disorientation. The building is modern and in good condition, and since it was purpose-built, preservation is straightforward. General admission is free, with charges for some special exhibitions, and the museum is well placed beside The Lowry, Media City and the Manchester Ship Canal, so it works well for a day trip into Salford Quays. Visitors interested in the northern and civilian experiences of the Second World War will find local stories, including Manchester's role in the Blitz and wartime industry.