Things to Do, Attractions, Museums

Captain Cook Museum, Whitby

Adventure! Endurance! Extraordinary Seamanship!
Location: Grape Lane, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO22 4BA
Telephone:
01947 601900 Call Us
Captain Cook Memorial Museum House Whitby

17th Century House on Grape Lane

Globe Children 507827247
Captain Cook Memorial Museum Canoe 671366216
Captain Cook Memorial Museum Whitby 444918930
Captain Cook Memorial Museum re enactors 1321995745
Captain Cook Memorial Museum blue room 543681776
Captain Cook Memorial Museum 1390028498
Captain Cook Memorial Museum Resolution 645750888
Captain Cook Memorial Museum Resolution model 640044447
The Ice Islands 17731
About Us


Adventure, endurance, extraordinary seamanship and survival against the odds mark the Cook story.

It began at the handsome 17th century harbourside house now the Captain Cook Memorial Museum.

This is where the great explorer, James Cook, came to serve his apprenticeship in Whitby in the year 1746. It belonged to Cook's master, the Quaker ship owner, Captain John Walker. When the young Cook was not at sea, he lodged here in the attic with Walker's 'other family' of apprentices.

Cook’s voyages were the 18th century equivalent of today’s missions to Mars. For ten years Cook and his crews explored the unknown, uncharted waters of the Pacific, the South Atlantic, and the Arctic Oceans. Danger was ever present.

The thought-provoking collection of original paintings and drawings, letters in Cook’s own hand, ship models, maps and fascinating objects gathered on the voyages illustrate the Cook story.

New special exhibition every year. For 2023 'Ice! Exploring the Far South'. We should think of Captain Cook as a polar explorer! 250 years ago, with two ships, Resolution and Adventure, Cook crossed the Antarctic Circle for the first time ever. The exhibition gives a sense of the extraordinary conditions confronting the small Whitby-built ships, and the work carried out – on ice, the temperature, the formation of icebergs, the varied Antarctic phenomena as well as birds and mammals seen

We are maintaining anti-Covid measures, screens and extra cleaning. Face coverings are now a personal choice. We are encouraging visitors and staff to continue to use hand sanitiser and to keep to prudent social distance.

Specially for children, Museum Activity Trail, activity cards.

Display your drawings in the Museum.

Free entry for children.

Free house guide (in 6 languages).

Gift shop.

To view our website, please click HERE.

For public transport info click here.

Opening Times

Saturday 11 February - Friday 31 March, 1030 - 1500

Saturday 1 April - Monday 6 November, 0945 - 1700

Open Mondays, Tuesdays, and Saturdays in November, 1030 - 1500 (From Tuesday 7 November)

Last admission half an hour before closing

Adult £8.50. Child up to 16 free

Arrangements correct at time of writing. Covid is still around. Government Guidelines may change

Please check our website for current opening times HERE

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