Setting the truth free
The International Slavery Museum is now open to the public. Based in the Merseyside Maritime Museum at Liverpool’s Albert Dock, it explores both the historical and contemporary aspects of slavery. The museum addresses the many legacies of the slave trade and tells stories of bravery and rebellion amongst the enslaved people. These are stories which have been largely untold.
The new museum opened on 23 August 2007. Not only is this the date of the annual Slavery Remembrance Day, but the year 2007 is particularly significant as it is the bicentenary of the abolition of the British slave trade.
The International Slavery Museum highlights the international importance of slavery, both in a historic and contemporary context. Working in partnership with other museums with a focus on freedom and enslavement, the museum provides opportunities for greater awareness and understanding of the legacy of slavery today.
It is located in Liverpool’s Albert Dock, at the centre of a World Heritage site and only yards away from the dry docks where 18th century slave trading ships were repaired and fitted out.
One of the greatest groups of national museums in the world, National Museums Liverpool is ideally placed to elevate this subject onto an international stage. Our previous focus on the issue of slavery, the Transatlantic Slavery Gallery at the Merseyside Maritime Museum, won worldwide recognition and was central to the development of our award-winning work on diversity and outreach.