The Aegean Maritime Museum opened doors to public in 1985. Its goal is the preservation, promotion and study of the Greek maritime history and tradition, and in particular the evolution and activities of the merchant ship, chiefly in the historic region of the Aegean Sea. The museum's exhibits include models of ships from the pre-Minoan period down to the beginning of the twentieth century, historical shipping documents, rare engravings and maps, ancient artifacts, navigational instruments, equipment and tools, as well as a collection of rare coins with nautical subjects from the 5th century BC to the 5th century AD.