The Beacon

THE Beacon in Whitehaven is one of West Cumbria’s most popular tourism attractions, attracting around 50,000 visitors a year.

That is why West Lakes Renaissance chipped in to help fund £2.2 million worth of improvements to the museum, which celebrates Whitehaven and West Cumbria’s rich maritime history.

The improvements aimed to enhance the visitor experience, not just for those travelling from far and wide, but also local residents who want to learn more about Whitehaven’s fascinating history; which includes links with the first President of the United State George Washington; the sugar, rum and slave trades and the murky world of smuggling.

The museum now boasts a dazzling array of interactive, high-tech exhibitions and a bustling activity centre, where arts crafts and education classes will be held for school groups and adults alike.

As well as a new ground floor bistro and a viewing gallery offering magnificent seaward vistas, there is also a moving deck that simulates the movement of a boat on the sea together complimented by interactive features that give visitors the chance to experience the smells, sounds and sights of life at sea.

The distinctive museum held a weekend of celebrations in September to mark its reopening.

It was the culmination in months of hard work and funding contributions from European Regional Development Fund, Copeland Borough Council, West Cumbria Development Fund and British Nuclear Group.

www.thebeacon-whitehaven.co.uk