Strike action and disruption to services

These three rooms explore the development of Belfast from its foundation in 1613 to the construction of City Hall with original hand drawn plans on display and Belfast’s historic royal charters. Highlights of this area include an interactive interface which allow visitors to explore the City Hall’s extensive portrait collection of former Lord Mayors and to view the oldest Mayoral robe in the collection of civic regalia embroidered with real gold thread. Visitors in this area can also view some priceless 'Freedom of the City' artefacts and learn more about this special honour.

This area of the exhibition consisting of three rooms explores the industrial heritage of Belfast from its most famous ship Titanic to Belfast’s famous music venues and theatres. Highlights of these rooms include a stunning mahogany cabinet destined for the Captain’s cabin of Titanic which never made it on board.

These three rooms explore the rich heritage behinds Belfast’s unique words and phrases, an opportunity to interact with the Belfast street directory of 1897 and a room exploring the games played by the children of Belfast along the City’s streets in years gone by.

Four rooms exploring the religious and political divisions of Belfast examining how they have both shaped and been shaped by history locally, nationally and internationally. Artefacts in these areas include the famous Covenant Table from 1912, artifacts from the Battle of the Somme in 1916 and the Blitz of Belfast in 1941.

This is a unique area allowing visitors to read archived experiences of the City citizen’s recorded during the traumatic years of ‘the troubles’ and to pause and reflect on this painful period in the City’s recent past.

The exhibition finishes with two rooms which celebrate the famous sons and daughters of Belfast who have put Belfast on the map for their incredible diverse achievements in the worlds of Science, Technology, Sport, Literature, Music and Art to name but a few!