Dartmouth Museum facts for kids
Dartmouth Museum is a super interesting place in Dartmouth, Devon, a historic town in England. It's like a time capsule that shows you all about the history of Dartmouth, especially its life as a busy port. The museum is located in a really old and special building called No. 6 the Dartmouth Butterwalk.
Contents
Discover Dartmouth Museum
A Historic Building with a Royal Visitor
The museum moved to its current spot in the 1950s. It's inside a very old merchant's house, which is a type of home where a trader or business person used to live and work. This particular house, No. 6 the Dartmouth Butterwalk, has a cool story! In 1671, King Charles II actually stayed there. He held court, meaning he did his royal duties, because a storm forced him to stay in Dartmouth.
The museum is run by the Dartmouth Museum Association. This group is a registered charity, which means it's a non-profit organization that helps the community.
What You'll Find Inside
The museum got a big makeover during the winters of 2010 and 2011. It has many cool things to see!
Amazing Ship Models
One of the most popular parts is the large collection of models of sailing ships. You can see tiny versions of the big ships that once sailed in and out of Dartmouth's port. There are also many "ships in bottles," which are tiny, detailed ship models built inside glass bottles. This special collection is known as the Dawe Collection.
Local History and Art
The museum building itself is part of the exhibition. You can see old local records and photographs that show what life was like in Dartmouth long ago. There's also a plaster ceiling that is thought to be one-of-a-kind. It shows something called the Tree of Jesse, which is a design often found in old art.
The Henley Collection
The museum also has the Henley Collection. This is a group of interesting items and scientific materials. They were collected by a person named William Henley (1860-1919). These items used to be in a separate museum on Anzac Street in Dartmouth.
How to Enter the Museum
The entrance to the museum is right in Dartmouth's Butterwalk. To get inside, you go up a spiral staircase. This staircase is built in a special way: it wraps counterclockwise around an old ship's mast. It's a unique way to start your visit!
