The idea

The Center is intended to have a strong international dimension, to be historical authentic, visionary and futuristic at the same time as it combines ideas and resources cross traditional borders. The Center of Marine Archaeology is to be both a scientific research centre and an experience centre for the public in an innovative museum environment. The new technology will be exploited whenever useful.

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In connection with the realisation of the project "Center of Marine Archaeology", co-operation and partnerships has been established with museums, research centres, universities, etc. both in Denmark and abroad.

The objective of establishing a strong network co-operation is to ensure that the centre will be as complete as possible - in reality a virtual centre complex, located in Thorsminde and that it form the base for extensive accumulation of knowledge as well as serving as experience centre and museum for the public.

For research purposes the vast amounts of scientific historical data which can be accessed and compared are of considerable value. The existing Strandingsmuseum St. George is planned to be expanded with additional buildings to house exhibitions and e.g. workshops. The collections regarding the St. George and the Defence will be more extensive with the new finds form the 1997 expedition. There will be the permanent collections on other famous historical shipwrecks, e.g. the World War I is not as well documented as the World War II. Therefore the Centre will set more focus on World War I - including the Battle of Jutland. The museum already has in its possession the tower of the U" submarine, which sank the passenger boat "Lusitania" and thus became the reason why USA entered on the war scene of World War I.. furthermore, there are finds to form collections on other historical wrecks, such as the war ship "Alexander Newsky" and "the Doll ship".

The drama these wrecks are connected with, the historical events together with the daily lives of the inhabitants on the coast and the sailors are totally at the level with what the media can offer today as to excitement. Often the finds make persons appear out the dust of history - e.g. the personal belongings that have been found and the testimonies from those who were present when an event to place. The Centre is intended to give the visitors not only a chance to see the historical artefacts, but also to experience the events and the drama behind them. This can be done by making history alive using models of the ships, creating rooms as they were on the ships, simulations, permanent and changing exhibitions. The experience and the learning is the main element as regards the visitors, so new technology leaves a number of possibilities for using multimedia, images, sound, Internet interactivity, etc. to create a historical authentic "experience centre".

The Centre will contain facilities for education and research - including facilities for video conferences and distance learning - which will make the Centre able to extend training and educational facilities to include international speakers and researchers as well as the users who may enter the Centre "from a distance".

We are looking forward to hearing from interested parties.