National Maritime Museum Cornwall

It is an independent charitable trust[2] and, unlike other national museums, receives no direct government support.

Its mission is to promote an understanding of boats and their place in people's lives, and of the maritime heritage of Cornwall.

[3] The museum has a waterside café overlooking the harbour, a shop, space for temporary exhibitions, and the Sunley Lecture Theatre.

The Bartlett Library is the centre of the museum's research and provides answers on maritime matters for specialists and amateurs alike.

As well as holding many of the original port records for Falmouth, it has over 16,000 books and a very large number of magazines, cuttings and illustrations.