Mission: 

To capture and preserve the wonder and influence of maritime history and the marine industry with focus on the development of Houston, the Texas Gulf Coast, and the State of Texas.

Vision: 

To be Houston’s showplace of maritime heritage and commerce through education programs, interactive exhibits and related events.

Maritime Heritage

The Houston Maritime Museum features ten galleries of model of ships, themed on Modern Warships, the Modern Merchant Marine, Sailing Ships and Steam Power, Ships in Bottles, Great Lakes Vessels, Convict Models, Ancient Chinese and Middle East, History of Navigation, Voyages of Discovery, Ocean Liners, Port of Houston, Sailing Warships, and the Offshore Energy Industry.

These galleries cover maritime history from the middle ages through modern navies and commercial fleets, and provide visitors with a close up look at a variety of vessels, including battleships, destroyers, submarines, aircraft carriers, clipper ships, side-and-stern-wheel paddleboats, sailing warships, ships of the age of exploration, modern merchant ships, freighters, tankers, and semisubmersible oil rigs.

In addition, the museum is home to a world class collection of historical navigation tools, including astrolabes, quadrants, sextants, and maritime compasses.

Younger visitors will enjoy the Skipper’s Corner where they can steer the captain’s wheel, practice Morse code with the signal light, and shift the engine telegraph into full steam ahead.