Kotor, Montenegro: Maritime Museum

The Maritime Museum's roots stretch back to 1880, when a a marine fraternity started collecting items about 1880. By 1900, it had enough to open a museum to show them off. 

A museum usually sees interest take off once open, and that was the case here. A remodeling was done in 1938 and the exhibits took over the first floor of its current building. Admittedly, World War II wasn't the best time to be in museum business. After the War, the entire building was adapted for use as a museum. 

The 1979 earthquake brought everything to a halt, thanks to a great deal of damage. It took about five years but eventually the Maritime Museum was open for business again.  

I've seen fancier exteriors, but it works.