After six months of restoration work, the Mary Rose Museum is open to the public once again, offering an even more immersive look at life aboard a Tudor ship. Visitors will be granted a panoramic view of the ship's deck from nine different galleries, aided by floor-to-ceiling glass.
Built in 1510, the Mary Rose served as the flagship for Henry VIII's fleet until it was sunk under mysterious circumstances 471 years ago. It was rescued from the deep in 1982, and experts have been cleaning, treating and drying the hull ever since, in an attempt to preserve it.
Finally, the hull has reached a stable state. The drying apparatus has been removed, giving visitors an unimpeded view of the deck from nine different galleries. This is the culmination of a £39 million (about US$50 million) restoration project, which has seen more than 9 million visitors since being first displayed in 1983.
"The story of the Mary Rose spans almost 500 years and this is a very exciting close to the latest chapter in her history. From the 20th July visitors will have stunning panoramic views of the ship from all nine galleries," says Helen Bonser-Wilton, CEO of the Mary Rose Trust.
Source: Mary Rose Museum