Our history
Our history
Monkwearmouth Station Museum opened in 1973 to preserve the handsome, neo-classical station building and to provide displays of transport and local history.
The station was designed by Thomas Moore of Sunderland and opened in 1848 as the Sunderland terminus for trains from Gateshead and Newcastle. It closed in 1967 and was bought by the Corporation for conversion into a museum. This included the restoration of the original booking office which had remained unchanged since 1866.
In recent years the Museum has widened its role to cater more for family groups, and in particular for children under five, and has received national and local commendations for its work with young children. It has also developed a wide range of family holiday activities.
Monkwearmouth Station Museum is owned by Sunderland City Council and managed on its behalf by Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums.