Did you know that the
inventor of the light bulb came from the North East? Or that Gateshead champion
rower Harry Clasper would draw over 100,000 people to the banks of the Tyne to
watch him compete against some of the greatest rowers in history?
This is an exhibition
about world firsts and big ideas that have all come from the North East, focusing
on the little known links between our sporting and industrial heritage with
films, photographs, collections and archives, as well as brand new interactive
and digital displays and exhibits.
Great North Greats at the Discovery Museum is an exhibition celebrating the millionth finish of the Great North Run and Tyneside's incredible sporting and industrial heritage.
Telling the stories of individuals and communities, everyday triumphs and groundbreaking achievements, it is a celebration of all of the Great North Greats – ordinary people, extraordinary achievements.
The exhibition features 5 of the regions celebrated ‘greats’ include inventor Joseph Swan, industrialists William Armstrong and Rachel Parsons as well as sporting legends Harry Clasper and Tanni Grey-Thompson.
Presented alongside them will be a growing number of digital stories and oral histories, highlighting many of the regions unsung heroes and their stories of triumph against the odds.
Look out for Matt Stokes, GNR Million artist in residence, who has produced a newspaper containing a selection of images from the collections at Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums as well as a brand new film, entitled Objects to See Further which screens exclusively at Discovery Museum every day. Read more about the film here.
There will be free, family friendly activities taking place at Discovery Museum throughout August, September and October, so check our calendar for more details.
