How Signal Flags Are Used To Tell Stories at Port Chalmers Maritime Museum

Author's Note: I am not affiliated with the Port Chalmers Maritime Museum at the time of publishing this blog. The opinions expressed in this blog are my own.

Communication tools from the past can inspire us to think about the different ways we can share the museum’s stories. It can help develop exhibitions and public engagement programmes that enhance the museum visitor’s experience and wellbeing by offering a novel experience. 

I experienced this firsthand when I visited the Port Chalmers Maritime Museum in Dunedin, New Zealand. Located opposite a working port, you almost get the sense that your museum visit transports you from the past into the present, as you watch container ships, logging operations and cruise ships from the Public Viewing Gallery in the new Port Otago Administration building, adjacent to the museum. This link between the past and the present is a great way to reflect on what has been, what is occurring now and what comes next.

Public Viewing Gallery in the new Port Otago Administration building

Using different communication tools to share your museum's collection in creative and impactful ways

One of the many creative and impactful ways I found that the Port Chalmers Maritime Museum engages visitors with the area's rich maritime and social history is through the ABCDarium display in the museum’s Laneway. Two communication tools were used in this exhibition, alphabetical signal flags, and an abecedarium, which is "...an alphabet that arrays letters in order, often presenting each typographic design alongside a word and picture that begins with that letter and represents it.” (Wake the Form, n.d.).

Alphabetical Signal Flags from the museum's collection were no doubt the inspiration behind the maritime-themed abecedarium. Naturally listed next to the ‘S’ signal flag cabinet are signal flags made by Shirley Bootten, which explain what the signal flags used in the ABCDarium display are.

The International Code of Signals explains that it is a “ set of signal flags consists of twenty-six alphabetical flags, ten numeral pennants, three substitutes, and the answering pennant.” (National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, 1969).

The International Code of Signals (National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, 1969) explains that: “The purpose of the International Code of Signals is to provide ways and means of communication in situations related essentially to safety of navigation and persons, especially when language difficulties arise.”  (National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, 1969)

Port Chalmers Maritime Museum ACBDarium Display

Finding flags and creating museum memories

The flags next to the 26 display cases are not in alphabetical order in the ABCDarium, so a brochure named ‘Key to ABCDarium Items' was a helpful guide and provided me with a list of the flags in alphabetical order and an object description. To further engage with the nautical theme, you can even tie different knots next to the ‘W’ display case, ‘Would you like to tie a knot?’ (Key to ABCDarium Brochure, Port Chalmers Maritime Museum). 

Always the overachieving museum visitor, I spent more time at the ABCDarium than any other part of the museum because I wanted to find all the letters and see the objects linked to the intriguing description. This creative way of sharing Port Chalmers’ maritime and social history created a novel experience, and helped me retain memory of that visit more vividly weeks after my visit. This experience reminded me of Author Karyn Hall, Ph.D article about novelty:

“Novelty activates our brain in powerful ways. When we encounter something new, our brain releases dopamine, a feel-good chemical associated with motivation and pleasure. This process not only makes us feel more alive but also helps us learn and grow.”

Orpheus Beaumont's "Salvus" lifejacket

An engine order telegraph that was used on ships to communicate engine commands from the bridge to the engine room.

Over to you

Drawing inspiration from different communication tools and methods from your collection can help you develop creative and impactful ways to display and interpret collection objects and stories in your museum. It can offer a novel experience to visitors, enhancing their museum visit and even their wellbeing. It also provides you with the opportunity to share unique stories of objects that you might always struggle linking to the rest of your permanent displays.   

Do you have a communication tool or method in your collection that you can incorporate in your museum to help create a novel experience through creative interpretation? Who knows, next exhibition or public engagement programme idea might be hidden in plain sight (or in an archival box!)

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References:

Hall, K., PhD. (2025, January 6). Learning something new can add to your health and to your pleasure in life. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/pieces-of-mind/202501/the-magic-of-novelty-why-it-matters-and-how-to-embrace-it 

Laneway | Port Chalmers Maritime Museum. (n.d.). Port Chalmers Maritime Museum. https://portmuseum.co.nz/explore/laneway

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. (1969). International Code Of Signals 1969 Edition (Revised 2020). In Maritime Safety Information (Pub. 102). https://msi.nga.mil/api/publications/download? key=16694273/SFH00000/Pub102bk.pdf&type=view 

Port Chalmers Maritime Museum. Key to ABCDarium Items.(n.d).

Public Viewing Gallery | Port Chalmers Maritime Museum. (n.d.). Port Chalmers Maritime Museum. https://portmuseum.co.nz/explore/public-viewing-gallery

Wake the form. (n.d.). https://rmc.library.cornell.edu/waketheform/exhibition/abecedarium/index.html#modalClosed 

All photos by Maryke Benadé.