During renovations to the Bourse district in 1967, many finds from the ancient port of Marseille were uncovered: the Jardin des Vestiges, a necropolis and ramparts from Greek times, the quay, a freshwater basin and a paved Roman road. But the educational museum had insufficient space to display its entire collection. After several years of renovations and extensions (6,500 m2), the new museum will open its doors to the public. 

This spectacular transformation is the result of an ambitious restructuring programme undertaken by the Ville de Marseille for the European Capital of Culture year. The museum aims to present Marseille’s maritime and port history in 13 different stages, from 600 B.C to today. By way of introduction, an overview will present the 30,000 years that humans have lived in the area, beginning with the Cosquer Cave. The adjoining open-air archaeological site and other areas will allow the museum to display its collection of 44,000 objects and documents. Exhibitions will also feature multimedia and 3D technology.