Whaling artefacts to feature in maritime museum

Artefacts from one of Hull's great whaling ships will go on display when the city's maritime museum reopens following a £20m renovation.

An engraved whale tooth and an American flag will help tell the story of the Truelove, a three masted merchant vessel, which was based for a time in Hull.

The museum is due to reopen on 8 August, with people encouraged to book free tickets from Monday due to high levels of interest.

A spokesperson said the online booking system would help to reduce queuing and secure entry times for visitors.

Built in Philadelphia in 1764, the Truelove survived capture during the American War of Independence before she was refitted as a whaling ship, based in Hull.

She completed more than 70 Arctic voyages and escaped one of the worst ice disasters in whaling history.

In 1873 the Truelove returned to Philadelphia, where she was presented with an American Flag.

The ship was broken up in the 1890's, but the flag and a whale tooth engraved with an image of the vessel are going on display in the museum.

The gallery said the flag has undergone "painstaking conservation" and will displayed in a case in the new atrium space, while the engraved whale tooth will be in the museum's Age of Sail gallery.

Hull Maritime Museum is a Grade II* listed landmark, which first opened in 1871.

The building is located in the former Town Dock offices in Queen Victoria Square, where ships once sailed directly past its doors.

While walk-up visitors will still be welcome, the museum said pre-booking was recommended to avoid waiting times. Tickets can be booked from 10:00 BST on Monday.

Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, which supported the Museum's regeneration, said: "It's fantastic news that people from the city and further afield can now get their hands on tickets to visit the revamped attraction."

The redevelopment has been funded by Hull City Council and The National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of the wider Hull Maritime project.

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