The new Museum of Liverpool opened on Tuesday 19 July 2011. If you look closely you can see actual members of the public looking out of the huge windows for the first time. It’s a magnificent building and as it tells the story of Liverpool there is obviously loads of very interesting things to see.
There are lots of interactives, immersives, voxpops, videos, games etc. Too much for one visit, maybe, especially when phase two opens later in the year (probably November). But you can take a break in the very nice fast-bistro style cafe or spend some cash in the shop – the Museum itself is free of course (donations are welcome).
Although it was very busy on the opening day (12,000 visitors already) it’s such a large space it never seemed too packed and it was a lovely atmosphere with so many happy, proud scousers (including me) still learning more about our great city.
The Museum is open daily from 10.00 to 17.00 but will be staying open till 22.00 on Fri-Sun 22-24 July 2011 as part of the ‘Reflection on the Waterfront’ event.
http://liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/mol/
All photos © Minako Jackson
The ribbon is cut by six year old Finn O’Hare
A large crowd had gathered, keen to see their new museum
Ben Johnson’s Liverpool Cityscape on the 2nd floor
The People’s Republic gallery is about the experience of living in the city: what it means to be Liverpudlian, how people have left their mark on Liverpool and the impact and issues caused by dramatic social change over the last 200 years.
A full-size replica of the Liver Bird looks out at the originals
The model of the Lutyens design for the Catholic Cathedral
The first Ford Anglia to roll off the production line at Halewood
This is the Scotland Road area in the 1870s, one of the most overcrowded and neglected parts of Victorian Liverpool. Tenement blocks called ‘Courts’ provided cheap housing for the huge numbers of people moving to the city at this time.
Try opening the ‘privvy’ door.
Mike McCartney’s Liverpool photos on the 2nd floor
The Singh Twins painting The Pool of Life
Playing the Liverpool Pop Quiz
Just part of the Beatles section
The Grand National – if only the fences were really that small.
Boxing and the Liverpool Stadium (I only ever went there for rock gigs)
The Sandon Rooms where Everton and Liverpool were formed
East Meets West in Global City on the ground floor.
Throughout the opening day visitors were entertained by performers from Brouhaha Festival which is also taking place this week.
The museum welcomes 12,000 visitors on the first day.