The National Maritme Museum in Greenwich - RNLI Special Exhibit and The Arctic

The National Maritime Museum was unexpectedly extravagant with its displays and information. The immense bottle below hung outside the entrance. 

 

This exhibit on the women of the Royal Navy Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) was one of the most informative and fascinating ones I've seen the whole trip.

 (Not ladies that lunch...)

I snapped some pictures of the slides in the video about the members of the RNLI today:

-the women run to the shore, no matter what they are doing. Their job is to haul hundred pound planks (see above) close to the water so the lifeboats can clear the sand and safely enter the water.

Another exhibit was about Antarctica and the Arctic:

Imagine sleeping in this furry nest:

Staying healthy and eating right was a constant struggle.

Some of the tools needed on the "sledge."

 

This sledge hung from the ceiling above the explanation below:

 

I've always been fascinated by Shackleton:

 

A few other interesting maritime items:

I've never seen a cat-o'-nine tails.

Interesting information about Admiral Horatio Nelson, who was a successful leader but...

... did not have similar success with his marriage.