The Royal Naval Hospital in Greenwich was founded in 1694 by Queen Mary II as a home for retired naval veterans.
The names of two of the greatest architects in British history at once are associated with this pearl of Greenwich's architectural ensemble - Inigo Jones and Christopher Wren. In 1614, Jones erected the central element of the ensemble - Queen's House, one of the first examples of classical architecture in this part of the world, which became part of the Tudor royal palace.
80 years later, around the miniature Queen's House, a complex of four English Baroque buildings grew up - Greenwich Hospital for disabled and veteran sailors of the British fleet. It is considered one of Christopher Wren's finest works, as the founder of a new direction in British architecture. Incidentally, the hospital buildings were included by UNESCO in the World Heritage List.
Today, the Greenwich Hospital houses the National Maritime Museum. Its exhibitions consist of more than two million exhibits related to the history of navigation and shipbuilding of one of the world's greatest maritime powers. The museum's collections include not only models and drawings of a wide variety of vessels, but also personal belongings of famous seafarers, outstanding naval commanders and admirals. Here you can learn about the history of naval battles and the merchant fleet, as well as admire paintings by marine artists.
