The collections evoke the port and river life of Gdansk and maritime events along the Baltic coast, from the earliest times to the present, including the Battle of Oliwa (28 November 1627) against Sweden, the age of discovery and Polish emigration, plus a section devoted to the young sailor of Polish origin Józef Korzeniowski, alias Joseph Conrad. The visit continues outside with the Soldek ship-museum, the first Polish vessel to launch from Gdansk dockyard in 1948.