Main Exhibition Space

Our Collections tell thousands of compelling stories, challenging us to look at war and conflict from different perspectives. In our Main Exhibition Space, you will discover the stories behind objects such as the fire-fighting trailer pump used in the Manchester Blitz of the Second World War, and come face to face with objects like the T34 Tank that reveal the true scale of modern warfare.

Trace the history of conflict from 1914 to the present day by following the Timeline along the gallery walls and visit the six Silos to find out more about themes such as women’s work during wartime and war reporting and propaganda. There is also a chance for families to delve deeper into some of the subjects explored in the gallery at our hands-on Action Stations.

Every hour you can hear the first-hand experiences of those who have lived through war and conflict at the Big Picture Show, and then get to grips with history at the TimeStacks, where you can handle real objects and discover the stories behind them with our staff.