If you are into history prepare to be overwhelmed....

If you are into history prepare to be overwhelmed. This ship turned museum was well ahead of its time when it first set sail. If the name Brunel is familiar to you, then you are aware of the famous Bristol suspension bridge that was designed by Brunel. You will have an opportunity to look/inspect the hull and see what is being done to delay the rusting (It is hermitically sealed and kept at a low relative humidity by blowing dry, warm air directly onto the hull). Through diaries, the living quarters have been recreated to show what passengers bunks and storage looked like (a lot different that todays modern cruise ships). Before entering the ship, there is a very interesting library that also has museum type exhibits on display. When we were there, we saw people dressed in period costumes (like Brunel) available to answer questions as well as volunteers knowledgeable about the ship. I am sure that you can google the history of the ship before or after your visit. Well worth spending several hours in this drydocked museum.