Housed in a Victorian warehouse at the historic Gloucester Docks, the museum is operated by the Waterways Trust and charts the story of Britain's canals through a special collection which has been designated as being of national importance.
The new galleries use this collection, which spans from the 18th century to the present day, to highlight the experiences of real people to create a clear and easy to follow narrative which flows through the museum.
The Ecology Gallery is devoted to the wildlife and ecology that can be found along our canals and rivers, whilst ‘Move It’ is a totally redesigned interactive space that explains how the canals were built and operated.
From the ground floor galleries visitors can access the external display areas and floating exhibits. On the first floor the museum opens up to reveal a newly created series of displays, each continuing the narrative of how people worked, moved and lived on the waterways.
A separate display area on the first floor is devoted to local stories; real life accounts and experiences that bring the rich heritage of Gloucester to life.
Funding for the refurbishment has been provided by Gloucester Heritage Urban Regeneration Company, British Waterways and the Friends of the National Waterways Museum.
