Permanent exhibition on the Galeb ship

The former military training ship, which gained worldview fame as the floating residence of the Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito during his state trips, is undergoing a thorough reconstruction and becoming the first Croatian ship-museum.

The museum set-up extends through the five decks of this 117m-long ship, offering visitors various features: from a tour of the residential areas in which Tito hosted numerous world statesmen, to a viewing of the wheelhouse, the ship’s cabins and the engine room which houses the original Fiat ship’s engines from 1938. The basic themes of the permanent exhibition are portrayed by original items, photographs and multimedia content. One of them is the story about the creation of the Non-Aligned Movement and the importance of the idea that Galeb carried on its “voyages of peace” to the countries of Europe, Africa and Asia; whilst within the thematic connection the history of the ship is intertwined with the turbulent history of Rijeka during the 20th century. In the former sleeping quarters, visitors can find out how life was organised on the military ship, whilst an interview with the former seamen and officers of Galeb reply to questions of what it meant to be a part of the crew of the “ship of peace.”

The creators of the permanent display are Nataša Babić (HR) and Ema Makarun (HR) of the City Museum of Rijeka. One of the permanent display’s collaborators is the esteemed historian Tvrtko Jakovina (HR), whilst the award-winning director Mila Turajlić (RS) is responsible for the production of the video material. The design of the display was overseen by Nikolina Jelavić Mitrović (HR).