About
The Tower Museum is located within the city’s historic walls. It has two major, permanent exhibitions as well as a programme of touring exhibitions and events.
The Story of Derry Exhibition takes the visitor through the history of Derry from the area’s geological formation 500 million years ago right through to the recent ‘troubles’, and beyond. An Armada Shipwreck – La Trinidad Valencera Exhibition tells the story of La Trinidad Valencera, one of the Armada ships that floundered off the Irish coast. This exhibition houses an extensive collection of artefacts recovered from the wreck site, on loan from the Ulster Museum.
The Tower Museum grew out of a suggestion in the late 70s to ‘rebuild’ a mock castle in imitation of an original, which was built near the site in the 16th Century. The O’Doherty Tower was finished in 1986. At this stage the museum project for the city envisaged an exhibition on the Story of Derry to be located in the underground section of the building.
The 5-storey tower building was only used for temporary displays until phase 2 of the project allowed for the development of the Spanish Armada exhibition – which is today housed within the tower itself.
The Tower Museum provides an important architectural landmark within the city. It is located just inside the north-eastern corner of the city walls – Ireland’s most complete and best example of a Medieval walled-city. The building of the tower is particularly noteworthy because it came during a period when many significant buildings were being lost. Since the late 80s the people of the area have seen the effects that the historic built environment can have on regeneration.
To avoid disappointment please contact the Tower Museum at tower@derrystrabane.com and 028 71 372411.
