Come see a brand new exhibition, opening just in time for the Summer Holidays, at the National Museum of the Royal Navy in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. Armada Maps National Treasures is an incredibly rare look into the events of the Spanish Armada of 1588, only open to the public for 45 days!
This exclusive exhibition houses ten hand drawn maps dating back to the Elizabethan era. The maps were saved from being sold overseas thanks to the fundraising efforts of the National Museum of the Royal Navy, National Memorial Heritage Fund, Art Fund, and members of the public. A staggering £600,000 was raised to keep the maps in the UK, where they are now on display for the first time.
Visitors will see the story of the Spanish Armada happening step by step. Each map details a new event in the ongoing battle. Also on display is an extremely rare map that shows the Armada from the Catholic perspective. The ongoing story of the Armada and its impact throughout history is unpacked, with in-gallery touchscreens and animations shedding light on a this historic event in English history, who the key players were, and what was at stake.
Following expert guidance from world-leading conservation experts and The National Archives, the maps can only be displayed for 45 days due to their fragile nature and the dangers of exposure to light. Don’t worry if you can’t see the Armada maps in person during this brief though, as there is an accompanying digital version of the exhibition that will remain live even after the physical exhibition has closed.
Armada Maps National Treasures will open to the public on the 24th of June till the 8th of June in the Hear My Story Gallery at the National Museum of the Royal Navy. Entrance is included with a valid ticket to the National Museum of the Royal Navy.
