Britain to build national museum to tell story of migration, new world settlers

Britain is to build its first national museum covering early human migration, it was announced Tuesday. The new museum is to be created in Liverpool, the departure point for millions of migrating Europeans heading to the Americas.

The museum also will tell the story of how Europe's first Chinatown was created in Liverpool, and how thousands of Irish people arrived in the city to escape the great potato famine in Ireland of the 1840s which led to more than a million people dying of starvation.

Local officials are describing the proposed national museum as Britain's own Ellis Island, the museum created in New York to tell its story of immigration.

In the 1800s, Liverpool was the main port in Europe for transatlantic sailing ships, and it was from the River Mersey that 9 million people left in search of new lives in the so-called "New World." Most headed to North America, and others to Australia and New Zealand.

The ambitious plan was unveiled Tuesday in a joint statement by the Treasury and the Liverpool City Region combined authority as part of a deal to create an elected metro mayor.

The proposed cultural package was welcomed by Liverpool's director of culture Claire McColgan, one of the key figures behind Liverpool's year in 2008 as European Capital of Culture.

"There has been talk for some time about a National Migration Museum, and it is great the government recognizes Liverpool as the natural home for such a museum. The story needs to be told of how important Liverpool has been in the migration of so many people," said McColgan.

"As well as the city being a major departure point, we also have the oldest Chinatown in Europe and received thousands of Irish families during the terrible potato famine," she added.

Talks will now take place about a location for the new national museum, but it is likely to be close to Liverpool's historic waterfront, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Endit