When was the last time you visited a museum or a historic site? The best places are those that bring history to life, for children and adults. If the museum inspires you, not only will you have a great day out. you will leave knowing far more than when you arrived The RNLI's historic lifeboat collection consists of 17 lifeboats, each with a story to tell from the past 180 years of life saving. Based at the Historic Dockyard Chatham, in Kent, the lifeboats are in good company, with neighbours HM Submarine Ocelot, HMS Gannet and HMS Cavalier.

The lifeboat collection was originally privately owned and on display at the Bristol Maritime Museum. When the museum closed there was the very real risk of the lifeboat collection being broken up.

This was a unique opportunity to bring these boats, which have saved so many lives, back into the ownership of the RNLI.

What better way to demonstrate the RNLI's proud past if not with examples from it? The RNLI decided to accept the lifeboats and find a way to put them on display.

With a reputation for operating lifeboats of the highest standard, much work had to be done to restore the lifeboats. An energetic group of volunteers, commanded mainly by the Lifeboat Enthusiasts' Society, arrived on the scene.

They ensured many of the neglected lifeboats were restored to their former glory and put on display to the public.

The lifeboats on display So what can you expect to see? The 17 lifeboats all in one location are an impressive sight, but they are brought to life by videos, archive films, artefacts and displays that tell the stories of heroic rescues. The lifeboats range from an Arun class all-weather lifeboat that was involved in a gold medal rescue in 1976 to the oldest boat in the collection - theStPau/, built in 1897 and currently awaiting restoration. The StPaul is representative of a Norfolk and Suffolk wide beam lifeboat of this era. One of her memorable rescues was during December 1919, which led to the coxswain and second coxswain being awarded silver medals for gallantry, and all of the 14 crew members receiving bronze medals.

Were you or your children involved in any of the Blue Peter lifeboat appeals? The children's television programme funded four D class inflatables in the 1960s. At Chatham you will have a chance to see one of the actual lifeboats for which you raised money with all those milk bottle tops.

The new interactive displays proved very popular at a Storm Force day for younger members of the RNLI, held last year. They can be found in the centre of the gallery and illustrate the history of lifeboat development and speed.

The lifeboat gallery attracts visitors from all over the world, providing a wonderful showcase for what the oldest national lifeboat service in the world has achieved over the years. It is also a testament to how much volunteers have done, from the lifeboat crews who used these boats to the volunteers that restore and maintain the lifeboats on show.Visitors to The Historic Dockyard Chatham will discover how the site has been involved in making maritime history over the past 400 years. It brings the past to life through a range of media including films, displays and the hi story-making boats themselves.

For over 400 years, HM Naval Base Chatham was one of the most important naval bases in England. The site first saw action with the Spanish Armada, and played an active role in Britain's naval affairs until the Falklands war. Nelson's flagship HMS Victory was built in Chatham.

The base was vacated by the Navy in 1984, but is still very much alive today. It is now open as a massive museum managed through a registered charity, the Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust. The Trust has added several new attractions and the Medway has become part of the developing Maritime Kent.

A visit to The Historic Dockyard will take a good part of the day or more so be prepared for a lot of walking. The site is approximately 80 acres in size. There are 47 ancient scheduled monuments and five large visitor attractions including the lifeboat gallery, a tour of the working ropeworks, the Museum of the Royal Dockyard, HM Submarine Ocelot, HMS Cannet and HMS Cavalier, and the Wooden Walls exhibition. For the tired or faint hearted, there is a heritage vintage bus is available to transport visitors around the site to theses various displays.

The Ropery Ropes are still produced at Chatham and you can go on a themed tour of this awe-inspiring, working ropery complex.

Costumed characters based on the ropery foreman through to the general labourers from the ropery's past bring alive the stories of those working there during the Victorian era. You can make your own piece of rope using traditional methods dating back to 1618.

Museum of the Royal Dockyard Find out how the Dockyard shaped Britain's global influence through the museum displays. Visitors can journey through 400 years of the history of Chatham and the Royal Navy, from its origins in the reign of Henry VIII through to the 1980s.

HMS Cavalier Visitors can climb aboard and experience the open bridge of the destroyer that saw active service in World War II, and go below decks to see how the crew lived.

Submarine experience You also have the opportunity to go down into the depths of the spy submarine Ocelot, the last warship built at Chatham for the Royal Navy, which prowled the depths of the ocean.

Sloop scoop During 2003, the restoration of HMS Cannet, the last remaining Naval sloop of the Victorian Navy, will be complete. The covers will be taken off to reveal a fully refurbished hull. She will be re-floated, the masts and spars will be put in place and finally she will be rigged.

Wooden Walls Discover how a wooden warship was built in 1758 in the interactive Wooden Walls exhibition. Soak up the atmosphere through the sights, sounds and smells of the working 18th century dockyard.

There are plenty of special events organised at the dockyard each year. One highlight will take place over the late May Bank holiday (24-26 May). For three days The Historic Dockyard Chatham will be transformed into a living celebration of what entertained the nation during the last 300 years. The dramatic backdrops of the buildings will showcase music, entertainment, food/drink and family life of Britain during four pivotal decades - the Georgians, the Victorians, the sixties and the first decade of the new millennium.

The popular Navy Days have been revived and the next will be held in 2004.

For more details on special events and information on opening times and cost, visit: www.chdt.org.uk Telephone: 01634 823 800 Fax: 01634 823 801 The Historic Dockyard Chatham Chatham Kent ME4 4T2.