Museum of Cardiff

Why go

The museum connects Cardiff’s coal-era growth with the lives of its communities, giving human context to buildings seen around the centre. Its collection ranges from family possessions to photographs and ephemera. The Old Library setting also makes it a useful companion to a walk through The Hayes once entry is possible.

What to look for

• The Old Library is the museum’s historic home at the northern end of The Hayes.
• The Tiled Corridor is a distinct architectural feature of the building.
• Cardiff in Context interprets the city through its people and history.

The full story

The museum’s approach starts with people rather than a list of municipal milestones. Objects, photographs and everyday papers trace Cardiff from early settlement through the coal boom to its contemporary communities. Possessions can reveal migration and family connections that the city’s large civic buildings alone cannot explain. Collection examples include a teapot that crossed the Atlantic twice, a clock associated with the Kaltenbach watchmaking family of Caroline Street, and a tambourine linked to an Italian family’s move to Cardiff. These illustrate the kinds of personal histories the museum holds; they are not a guarantee of what will be on display during a particular visit. The building has its own place in the story. Opened in 1882, the Old Library brought together a library, museum and schools of science and art. The city-history museum opened here in 2011 under the Cardiff Story name. Its setting links the telling of Cardiff’s history with a much older tradition of public learning.

Useful to know

• Check the official reopening and entrance information before travelling specifically for the museum.
• Combine a confirmed museum visit with The Hayes and the nearby arcades.

Your next visit

Estimated · Declared scenario and planning estimates; no live opening, weather, queue or booking service.