What is now one of Malta's most popular museums - the National War Museum - started as a modest exhibition in lower Fort St Elmo in Valletta, set up in 1975 by a group of volunteers who called themselves The National War Museum Association.
In honour of the enduring spirit of these passionate individuals who laid the foundations for today's museum, and the 80th year since guns went silent in Europe at the end of WWII, Heritage Malta, the National Celebrations Foundation and Festivals Malta are inviting the public to two special events.
Roosevelt's Jeep 'Husky'. Photo Steven Psaila.
On Friday 30th May, As One - A Concert for Peace, will pay tribute to wartime resilience whilst calling for unity and peace. The concert opens with WWII Impressions, a jazz suite composed by Dominic Galea and inspired by the war-era musical Il-Gwerra ta' Spiru Cefai, followed by a selection of popular anti-war songs headlined by Ivan Grech. Stripped-back acoustic arrangements, evocative visuals, and a live choir will create a stirring atmosphere of remembrance and solidarity.
On Sunday 1st June, an open day for all the family invites the public to explore Fort St Elmo and the National War Museum. The museum will offer guided tours alternating in Maltese and English every hour from 10:00 to 17:00. Visitors will also be able to view the George Cross alongside the original letter from King George VI, specially loaned for the occasion by the National Library of Malta.
The Casemates Area at Fort St Elmo overlooks the Grand Harbour. Occupying a strategic position watching over the Grand Harbour and the Marsamxett Harbour, Fort St Elmo is best known for its role in the Great Siege of Malta, and also played an important role during WWII. Photo Steven Psaila.
Talented re-enactors will bring history to life throughout the day, complemented by a variety of activities curated by Heritage Malta's Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit (UCHU), Diagnostic Science Laboratories (DSL), and Education Department.
A new immersive installation by Heritage Malta's Technology and Experience Development (TED) Unit will highlight the pivotal role of the Bofors Light Anti-Aircraft gun. Weather permitting, a vintage Piper J-3 Cub will fly over the skies above Fort St Elmo - a thrilling highlight not to be missed.
Inside Fort St Elmo after restoration works were completed in 2015. Photo Daniel Cilia.
Three new war-related Heritage Malta publications will be available - one marking the 50-year milestone of the museum by spotlighting 50 unique artefacts from its collection, another explaining the Second World War in a more engaging format for younger audiences, and the third focusing on the awarding of the George Cross - featuring fresh curatorial research.
Free tickets for the concert on 30 May can be booked online or at any of Heritage Malta's museums and sites. Availability is on a first come, first served basis. For more information visit: https://heritagemalta.mt/whats-on/celebrating-50-years-of-the-national-war-museum-1975-2025-open-day/
The Harbour Fire Command. Built atop Fort St Elmo's cavalier in 1938 its role was to coordinate all the coastal fortifications entrusted with the defence of the Grand Harbour and Marsamxett harbour. Following extensive restoration the rooms were reopened to the public in 2023. Photo Steven Psaila