Captain Cook Memorial Museum in Whitby, Yorkshire, United Kingdom | Museum

Captain Cook Memorial Museum in Whitby, England, United Kingdom is in the 17th century house on the harbour where the young James Cook lodged as apprentice. It was here Captain Cook trained as a seaman, leading to his epic voyages of discovery.
Captain Cook?s training as a seaman began in Whitby, England. He was born on 27 October 1728 at Marton-in-Cleveland. His father, originally from Scotland, was also called James and married Grace Pace from Cleveland. They had eight children, though several died young. When James was still a child, his father moved to Great Ayton, a few miles away near the Cleveland Hills, and became the foreman at Aireyholme Farm.
Here the young James received the rudiments of education at the village school and assisted his father on the farm. In 1745, he began work in a grocer?s shop at Staithes, a fishing village only a short distance from the busy port of Whitby.
The high attic as featured in Captain Cook Memorial Museum, is where, according to established tradition, the young apprentice seaman spent much of his time ashore and where he shared sleeping space with sixteen others. The kindly housekeeper, Mary Prowd, supplied him with candles so that he could study on dark winter evenings. The attic with its high timbered roof, retains the atmosphere it had in the period when a lasting friendship was forged between Cook and his Whitby master, John Walker.
Captain Cook Memorial Museum has a variety of souvenirs, with something to suit every pocket, from pencils and postcards to books or pictures.
We have for many years encouraged school children and their teachers to visit the Museum. Many return year after year. Our introductory session covers Cook's Yorkshire background, his naval career, the great voyages of exploration, and his ideas on topics such as diet, scurvy, or encounters with previously unknown peoples.
There are many links to the curriculum, and we are happy to tailor visits to your particular needs in, for example, art, history or science.