Our Temporary Exhibitions allow us to delve more deeply into specific themes and ideas from the 17th century, exploring their legacy up to today. These are usually located in the two rooms on the top floor of the museum, floor 5.

The Dandelion Project

Discover the incredible Dandelion Project exhibit, featuring works of art that celebrate the power of nature, human connection, and creativity. The exhibition will be open to the public from Friday 19 April until Saturday 13 July.

The Dandelion Project, a collaboration between the National Civil War Centre and local artist Kristina McCormick through her Quirkshops organisation, has transformed lives by providing women with an immersive, soothing, and liberating experience.By weaving the threads of nature, human connection, and art into a tapestry of mental wellbeing, the project has encouraged women to step away from the pressures of their everyday lives and immerse themselves in the soothing embrace of art and nature.

Our permanent galleries include the Main Civil War Gallery on Floor 1 which gives a comprehensive overview of the causes of the conflict while The World Turned Upside Down galleries on Floor 3 examine their consequences and 17th century life more closely.  

‌The World Turned Upside Down

The unmatched devastation of the Civil War led to an extraordinary ‌transformation. Re-building society after such a dramatic breakdown opened the door to a chance at revolution, and the chaos of war left a remarkable opportunity for creativity in its wake. This 'World Turned Upside Down' is the focus of a brand new permanent exhibition exploring the 17th century's seismic shifts in religion, science, culture and politics. The exhibition will ask just what happened to turn the world from right way up to 'upside down'; examine what it would have been like to plunge into the mayhem of war and emerge into an unfamiliar landscape; and uncover how the pyramid of power shifted from the God-chosen King on top... to Charles' head on the ground.

Newark’s story begins with Ice Age travellers, following their prey along the high ground between rivers. After the ice melted, other travellers left their mark and their treasures here. Romans gave us our roads. Vikings named many of our streets. Anglo Saxons built Newark Castle and the New Werk – the town we know as Newark today.

Explore these two rooms to see some of the clues left to us by generations past. Find out about our local history and the people who built Newark. Who buried the golden torc by the River Trent? Why did Lord Byron have his first volumes of poetry printed here? Who used folding bikes before commuters?