It is part of National Museums Liverpool and an Anchor Point of ERIH, The European Route of Industrial Heritage.

[2] The embryonic Merseyside Maritime Museum collection began in 1862.

Robert Gladstone (maritime historian and great-nephew of former Prime Minister William Gladstone) created the shipping gallery in 1931 which was partially destroyed in the May Blitz of 1941.

In late 1970s work began on the creation of a dedicated maritime museum which opened for a trial season in 1980.

In 2012, Rarely-seen items related to Titanic were exhibited to mark the 100th anniversary.