Whitby Lifeboat Museum

Once an RNLI lifeboat station, this Victorian double boathouse celebrates Whitby’s award-winning lifeboat history with a treasure trove of paintings, medals, photographs and mementos from famous wrecks and rescues.

About the museum

Lifeboats crewed by the people of Whitby have been helping those in trouble at sea since 1802. In that time, 36 RNLI Medals for Gallantry have been awarded to courageous crew members.

Housed in a custom-built double boathouse that was used by the RNLI from 1895–1957, our museum displays the RNLB Robert & Ellen Robson lifeboat which was built in 1918 housed on a Victorian Launching Carriage. The Museum displays models, paintings, medals, photographs, crew kit and touching mementos from wrecks and famous rescues, including those involving Coxswains Henry Freeman and Thomas Langlands.

The museum is located at the end of Pier Road. Public car parking is available in town.

Before you visit, why not take a virtual tour of the museum?

See inside the historic pulling lifeboat on display

You can explore the fascinating story told in our museum, and learn about the lifeboats, crew, and rescues of Whitby over the years by clicking below.

Whitby Lifeboat Station History

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