Maritime heritage museum encapsulates Kochi port’s voyage from 1922

As the port celebrates 86 years since the first ship docked, a look at the evolution of the city as a maritime hub

The Cochin Maritime Heritage Museum, which opened here on Monday as part of the Port Day celebrations, captures the metamorphosis of the port and city of Kochi into what it is today-the business city of the State and a maritime hub that has drawn global attention.

Travelling through time

One of the more impressive collections in the museum is an assemblage of 70 photographs that throw light on the construction of the inner harbour, paving the way for the first vessel to sail into the port on May 26, 1928.

The museum also has priceless documents like the first sketches of Willingdon Island. The 1922 drawing brings out details of the landscape and features of the initial works.

A rare picture shows Sir Robert Bristow, the British harbour engineer who designed the port, beside the first train that arrived at the Island station.

A February 1937 photo of the Venduruthy rail-cum-road bridge, shows the cylinder screws and cast iron cylinders that went into its construction.

Along with equipment and instruments like clocks and anchors, the exhibits include a photograph of ‘Lady Willingdon’, the dredger that was pivotal to the building of the port.

The museum will remain open on all working days between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.