The £31m National Waterfront Museum (NWM) Swansea opens today as part of the UK-wide Trafalgar Week celebrations – the culmination of the year-long SeaBritain Festival which was inspired by the 200th anniversary of Nelson’s victory at the Battle of Trafalgar.

Featuring objects representing Wales’ history as an industrial nation – including a 28-tonne rolling steel mill, the world’s first steam locomotive and one of the few surviving coal wagons – the NWM is part of Swansea City Council’s ongoing regeneration plans for the town’s maritime area.

Operated by the National Museums & Galleries of Wales and the first Welsh Museum to be designed and built for free access, the museum will include a major gallery space, café, shop and education facilities and house the largest collection of Welsh maritime and industrial artefacts under one roof.

In addition to the grand opening today and as part of Trafalgar Week, the museum will light the Swansea Beacon on 21 October, stage a small-scale special exhibition about Admiral Lord Nelson and launch a Nelson in Wales Trail.

Funding for the museum was provided by the Heritage Lottery Fund, which provided around £11m, with the rest coming from the Welsh Assembly Government, Wales Tourist Board, the Welsh Development Agency, Objective One funding and a number of other private donors and sponsors. Details: www.nmgw.ac.uk