Captain Cook Birthplace Museum Reopens

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The Stewart Park museum has opened for the Easter holiday season and will also open during May half-term and for the summer school break. Long-term options for the running of the museum are still being considered as efforts continue to reduce running costs and attract more visitors. The next two weekends will see the museum host The Big Science Workshop.

Middlesbrough’s Captain Cook Birthplace Museum has announced its 2024 opening dates.

The Stewart Park museum has opened for the Easter holiday season and will also open during May half-term and for the summer school break. Long-term options for the running of the museum are still being considered as efforts continue to reduce running costs and attract more visitors.

The next two weekends will see the museum host The Big Science Workshop. Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke said: “I pledged that the museum would reopen while we do more work around its future.

“I’d again like to thank the Captain Cook Birthplace Trust and councillors Dorothy Davison and Jason McConnell for their input. I hope as many people as possible can support the museum.”

Deputy Mayor Philippa Storey, who is also the Executive member for Culture, said: “There was a lot of support for the museum during the Council’s budget consultation and it’s really pleasing it will now be open during school holidays.

“Hopefully families from around the region will come and enjoy learning more about the history of Middlesbrough’s most famous son.”

Martin Peagam, Chair of the Captain Cook Birthplace Trust, said: “We are delighted to see the Birthplace Museum reopened, and thank the Mayor for his support in securing this.

“However, we recognise that we have yet to secure the long-term future of this important part of the local heritage. Many people signed our petition against closure.

“We now ask those people to visit the museum, buy a ticket, view the fantastic exhibits on display, and tell everyone what a great museum it is. In doing so, they will help secure the museum for generations to come.”

Marton East councillors Dorothy Davison and Jason McConnell said: “We are pleased to see that the museum has reopened. As the local councillors and members of the Captain Cook Birthplace Trust, we will do everything we can to secure the long-term future of the museum.

“We would like to thank everyone involved in ensuring the museum opened its doors again this spring. Our ambition is to see the museum fully open and not just during school holidays.”

The museum will be open from 10am until 4pm, Tuesday to Sunday up to and including April 14. It will then reopen from May 25 until June 2 and for the summer holidays from July 20 to September 1.

2024 entry prices are confirmed as follows:

  • Adults: £4.70
  • Children/concessions: £3.65
  • Family of one adult and three children: £12.55
  • Family of two adults and two children: £13.60.
All tickets are valid for unlimited visits during the museums opening times. The museum will also welcome school trips on weekdays during term-time.
The museum hosts the fun-filled Big Science Workshop on Sunday April 7 and Saturday April 13.

Tickets are available now for the live demonstrations where children can take part in exciting hands-on experiments.

Workshops take place at 10am and 2pm on both days. Tickets are available online.

cook museum.jpg
 
Not for long sure the council will be watching closely…. Unfortunately keep the museum open
 
Great news when we really needed a miracle to keep this piece of (all things Middlesbrough and the science of what is James Cook) history in place. His achievements will not be forgotten by those of us who recognize his incredible devotion to exploration.
 

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If I lived on Teesside I would volunteer some time for the museum , the bloke sailed into the unknown and produced the greatest maps the World have ever seen at that time, constantly risking his life and in the end giving it.
 
I thought the council was skint?

Story in EG states a 1.1M Contract was awarded to a German company behind closed doors.

A UK Company is now threatning legal action stating they could have delivered for exact same service for £250,000 less!!!! And whilst employing people in the UK.

That £250,000 could have kept the museum open, glad I don’t live in Middlesbrough council boundaries. I’d be fuming as a tax payer, especially if they end up spending more taxpayers money in court because of this

www.gazettelive.co.uk

Council threatened with legal action over £1m wheelie bin contract

Middlesbrough Council said it had been legally compliant, but conceded a 'breach' as it did not publish the contract award notice in a timely fashion
www.gazettelive.co.uk www.gazettelive.co.uk
 
Will be visiting soon, my son is a little too young but anything towards helping the museum. That closing and the potential to start charging is the beginning of the end of the park for another housing estate.
 
Sergio said:
Will be visiting soon, my son is a little too young but anything towards helping the museum. That closing and the potential to start charging is the beginning of the end of the park for another housing estate.
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The car park charge is not now going to happen and don't worry the park is protected as a green space donated by Dormand Stewart to the people of Middlesbrough. But we need to come out and support our museums.
 
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fmttmadmin said:
The car park charge is not now going to happen and don't worry the park is protected as a green space donated by Dormand Stewart to the people of Middlesbrough. But we need to come out and support our museums.
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Thats good to know Rob, I did fear that was the beginning of the end for the park. First close the museum and cafe, then charge to park, numbers drop, not worth staying open...
 
Sergio said:
Thats good to know Rob, I did fear that was the beginning of the end for the park. First close the museum and cafe, then charge to park, numbers drop, not worth staying open...
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Stewart Park is phenomenally popular. The numbers using it are massive. It is also a teaching environment for Askham Bryan College.
We need some of those daily thousands to visit the museum.
 
Come on down this afternoon.

The museum will be open from 10am until 4pm, Tuesday to Sunday up to and including April 14. It will then reopen from May 25 until June 2 and for the summer holidays from July 20 to September 1.

2024 entry prices are confirmed as follows:

  • Adults: £4.70
  • Children/concessions: £3.65
  • Family of one adult and three children: £12.55
  • Family of two adults and two children: £13.60.
 
I popped along for the first time ever today with the family. What a fantastic asset to the town, really reasonably priced, short and interactive enough for kids to get the most out of. Came out thinking I can’t believe it’s not open year round. Will certainly go back a few more times this year given the ticket covers the season.

It was pretty busy too which I hope is a good sign.
 
I know I have mentioned this before and I think the answer was no one knows where they are, but someone at the British Library must know where the exhibition materials are from the Cook Exhibition at the BL - five years ago. They were excellent and timeless. Some could be displayed in the upstairs gallery room of the Birthplace Museum. The BL often states it wants to help the provinces - hence it stores at Thorpe Arch between Leeds and Tadcaster.

I was fascinated not just by the navigation maps and exploration he did, but how he managed his ships, how someone from a humble background could still achieve so much, how he managed to fit into the hierachy of the class bound Royal Navy. Also how he dealt with the local people of the lands he went to and how he even brought a native leader to Georgian London and treated him broadly as an equal at a time of extreme racial prejudice.
 
Redwurzel said:
I know I have mentioned this before and I think the answer was no one knows where they are, but someone at the British Library must know where the exhibition materials are from the Cook Exhibition at the BL - five years ago. They were excellent and timeless. Some could be displayed in the upstairs gallery room of the Birthplace Museum. The BL often states it wants to help the provinces - hence it stores at Thorpe Arch between Leeds and Tadcaster.

I was fascinated not just by the navigation maps and exploration he did, but how he managed his ships, how someone from a humble background could still achieve so much, how he managed to fit into the hierachy of the class bound Royal Navy. Also how he dealt with the local people of the lands he went to and how he even brought a native leader to Georgian London and treated him broadly as an equal at a time of extreme racial prejudice.
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It was a vast exhibition and was sourced from collections from all over the world. There was a smaller exhibition held a year later in a room in the British Museum. I had hoped that could come to Middlesbrough and museum staff did try. Without success, sadly. I think again it was a collection that was largely returned to various places around the world.

We have approached the museum in Northumberland that recently displayed large seashells retrieved from.a skip in Newcastle. Many were genuine items brought back from the Three Voyages.
 
Remember the museum is open until Sunday - so please do drop down if you are off the Easter holidays. Or if you are not going away to Ipswich on Saturday.

open from 10am until 4pm, Tuesday to Sunday up to and including April 14. It will then reopen from May 25 until June 2 and for the summer holidays from July 20 to September 1.

2024 entry prices are confirmed as follows:

  • Adults: £4.70
  • Children/concessions: £3.65
  • Family of one adult and three children: £12.55
  • Family of two adults and two children: £13.60.
 
I've taken my kids there a couple of times in the past when visiting parents etc, it's great, the kids loved learning about Captain Cook and thought it was brilliant that he was from where their mam and dad were brought up.
 
I don't think we have much on this weekend, weather looks decent as well. Will try and get a few hours in the park and visit the museum whilst we're there
 
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