Current Exhibitions
Triumph & Tragedy
Swansea VE 80
Thursday 8th May 2025 is the 80th anniversary of the official end of World War II. Known as Victory in Europe (VE) Day.
As with so many other places, Swansea suffered greatly during the Second World War. The terror of the Three Nights Blitz left an indelible mark on the town, which was left devastated and changed forever.
Through photographs, oral histories, film and artefacts this exhibition explores Swansea and the war. We remember how it dealt with the horror of the blitz and the resilience of its people on the home front. We look at the major role Swansea docks played in what would eventually become VE Day and how the people of Swansea reacted when victory was finally announced.
Remembering the Cockle Women
A bite-sized exhibition has been cooked up to celebrate the history of the Penclawdd cockle industry. The display includes loans of photographs, prints, and paintings from the descendants of the industry’s long-established families. Many of these items have never been seen by the public before. A short documentary film will be the seasoning on top of this delectable display.
Make sure to visit us for a taste of Swansea’s attachment with this tiny bivalve.
Wales’ First Museum
The Royal Institution of South Wales or RISW, was established in 1835. The founding members opened Wales’ first major museum in 1841. This is now Swansea Museum, which remains a thriving centre of culture.
A recently published book sets its story in context in local, national, and international terms. Leading specialists describe the formation of the Museum’s many and varied collections. These include geology, natural history, botany, archaeology, Egyptology, photography, the decorative arts, historical records, coins, maps, and costume.
The museum has been operated by Swansea Council since the early 1990s. However, the RISW is still an active group and strong supporters of the museum as its friends’ group. This exhibition celebrates their new book and our wonderful heritage. Contained within this exhibition are key items from the museum’s collections, which have been highlighted in the book. Some of the objects are on display for the first time.
A Very Natural History
People have an undeniable fascination with nature. This is clearly illustrated by the range of our natural history collection. From dried plants to pressed shrews, the museum has an impressive amount of flora and fauna. While it is usually no longer necessary to collect and preserve natural history specimens in this way, there is still a lot to be learnt about the motivation for the original practice.
