Odessa is a city by the sea. And, of course, what not a museum on the sea theme fully complements the fascinating excursions. Here, for example, Odessa Maritime Museum. Designed this building city architect George (Georgis) Ivanovich Torricelli, known for his projects on the construction of temples in Yalta and Alushta. He is also the creator of the merchant exchange on Primorsky Boulevard, large architectural ensembles and many other buildings in the city of Odessa.
Previously, the premises of the Naval Museum were occupied by the English Club, and the building itself was made in the manner of the spirit of the inhabitants of the Foggy Albion. The white and blue coloring of the building is the color of the legendary Wedgwood porcelain, the national pride of England. The club was built in 1842. Due to the fact that the building is located on a steep slope, from the side of the square Opera Theater it is one-story, and from the side facing Duma Square, it has a mezzanine (the second floor in mansion houses) and a high plinth. Thanks to the well chosen location it is well viewed from all sides.
Today the building is a museum of the Navy and is an architectural monument. In one part of the exposition there are rare models of ships, more than 100 years ago, which sailed the Black Sea. The museum fund has 100 thousand exhibits, including valuable documents and photographs, jewelry models of ships, as well as an anchor, the age of which exceeds 900 years.
Now, unfortunately, not all the exposition is exhibited, due to the fire in 2005, and the museum itself was temporarily moved to one of the premises of the sea station. Since 1965, 11 million people have visited the old building of the museum, and only 2 thousand have visited the new one so far.
Be sure to visit the Maritime Museum, especially this visit will be useful and exciting for the younger generation. Maritime Museum is a necessary element of education of young men. Visiting it, you will definitely plunge into the exciting stories of sea voyages and adventures, romanticism of «scarlet sails» and feel the «spirit» of the navigator. Our modern reality displaces all the romance and the education that our great-grandfathers received. So let us support, honor, remember and nurture it in our children.