The Kobe Maritime Museum is one of Kobe's most recognizable landmarks thanks to its white steel lattice roof, and is included in almost every postcard-like view of the city centre, featuring the Kobe Port Tower and surrounding area. This building came into being as part of the project to commemorate the opening of Kobe's port, centered around the concept of "Kobe starting from the sea and a port, and advancing toward the future." The museum introduces the structure of ships, stand-out cruise liner charms, port facilities and roles, and chronicles how the city has changed over time in a user-friendly manner. These exhibits are complemented by genuine navigational instruments, diorama shop models, imagery and other graphics. The City of Kobe also preserved part of the Meriken wharf that collapsed during the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake to convey the impact of the disaster to visitors and pass the knowledge on to future generations at what is now called Kobe Port Earthquake Memorial Park. Meanwhile, since 2006, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, the fortunes of which have been intertwined with Kobe ever since the city opened its port, has developed a company museum on the adjacent space, with numerous visual, auditory and try-for-yourself experiences the whole family can enjoy.
