‘Dream Destination’ celebrates the rise of Scotland’s seaside resorts and the golden era of steamboat travel ‘doon the watter’.
The Museum’s Summer exhibition, which is on show in the Linthouse building on Irvine Harbourside, charts the growing popularity of sailing down the Clyde to Helensburgh, Gourock, Largs, Ayr, Millport, Dunoon and Rothesay for the day or a ‘staycation’ from the early 1900s.
The exhibition also delves into the rivalry between railway and steamship companies as they first worked together then competed for tourist income.
Highlights include scenic landscapes captured by the Scottish Colourists, railway posters and photographs drawn from the Museum’s national art collection.
The Museum will also run a series of exhibition events during the summer and ‘My Fantastic Ship’, a children’s art competition with winning entries going on display as part of the exhibition in September.
Exhibition events include ‘It was fine when it left us….’, a Titanic Discovery Family Session, White Star Line – The Beloved, the Damned and the Forgotten – an evening with cocktails/mocktails, a talk and exhibition viewing, both with local historian Bill Fitzpatrick as well as A Sailors Log - From Square Rigged Ships to Submarines. This evening talk and exhibition viewing will be led by the Scottish Maritime Museum Chair of Trustees Laurie Sinclair who will recall his Stevenston Grandfather's maritime career.