The Hull Maritime Museum has reopened after a £20.4 million refurbishment project. The revitalised museum's star attraction is a 40ft-long skeleton of a North Atlantic right whale, which was beached over a century ago.
The refurbishment has doubled the museum's public space and allows for 50% more objects from its collection to be displayed. Approximately 1,300 artefacts are now on show across the galleries and open storage areas, with many being seen by the public for the first time.
Funding for the project included £11.8 million from Hull City Council and £7.7 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, with the remaining amount raised through private donations.
The museum, originally converted from dock offices in 1975, now features a toned-down colour scheme of subtle marine blues and a glacially white ceiling. New display systems aim to bring Hull's maritime history to life, from dockers' tools to a 'monkey mermaid'.