Museum of Cardiff

The Museum of Cardiff stands in the Old Library, a red-brick building opened in 1882 at the northern end of The Hayes. The library once housed Cardiff’s Free Library, Museum and Schools for Science and Art before the schools moved out in 1890. After the Central Library relocated in 1988, the empty building stood unused until plans for a Cardiff museum took shape. The Old Library’s grand staircase and high ceilings now frame displays of city life. Cardiff Council and the Wales Tourist Board supported the project with £2 million to create a museum focused on the last two centuries. Consultants worked with local groups to shape an interactive experience for all ages. The museum holds 3,000 objects donated by residents, telling the story of Cardiff’s growth from a small town to a capital. Exhibitions like Moving Stories 1905–2005 drew nearly 17,000 visitors in six months. Fury of the Waters explored the 1607 flood and featured Billy the Seal’s skeleton on loan from National Museum Cardiff. Bats, Boots and Balls celebrated local sport, with Colin Jackson voted Cardiff’s greatest athlete. Roots to Cardiff uncovered a Gypsy caravan lent by the Travellers’ Education Service. These shows proved the appetite for a museum rooted in people’s memories and artefacts. Inside, visitors find rooms filled with stories of work, school and play across the centuries. The main gallery displays changing exhibitions on themes such as floods, sport and childhood. Interactive elements let children handle objects and watch films about Cardiff’s past. The building’s original features remain, including the ornate library hall and tall windows overlooking The Hayes. Temporary shows rotate, ensuring each visit offers new insights into the city’s history. The museum remains a lively place where Cardiff’s people shape what is on display.