With a collection dating back to 1846, Sunderland’s fascinating history is explored across four floors, with spaces dedicated to shipbuilding, coal mining, glass making and pottery, as well as many other aspects of the city’s past. Perhaps the most famous object of all is Wallace the Lion. Wallace was part of a touring wild animal show which visited Sunderland during 1868 with the then famous African tamer Martini Maccomo. When he died, some years later, Wallace the lion was stuffed and entered the Museum’s collection. Over 135 years later, he’s still there and remains one of the most popular exhibits…now posing for selfies! These day’s Wallace is also in the company of the first Nissan car to roll off the production line at their Sunderland factory in 1986. The car plant replaced shipbuilding as one of the major industries in Sunderland. Sunderland has a rich history of industries, all of which are explored throughout the museums four floors. Exhibition spaces are home to exciting objects like a stuffed lion named Wallace and the first Nissan car to roll off the production line at their Sunderland factory in 1986. The museum also explores aspects of the city’s past. The ‘Secrets of the Past’ gallery, for example, delves into the lives of the Anglo-Saxon monks who resided at St Peter’s Monastery in Monkwearmouth.