The first floor exhibit is retrospective, it is divided into zones:
1. Before the Elblag Canal
History of construction and today’s state of the oldest canal, built as early as in 1334, later linked to the network
2. The circumstances that led to the Elblag Canal’s
construction Historical, political and economical background
3. Georg Jacob Steenke – dates,
individuals and events Biographical look at the Elblag Canal’s preparation and construction
4. The incline model
A moving model of an inclined plane showing a full cycle of operation
5. the Elblag Canal’s construction history
Goals and objectives, key issues and applied solutions, construction stages
6. the Elblag Canal renovation
Key information on the 2007-2015 renovation – course, scope and memories
7. Temporary exhibitions
Exhibition developed by the Regional Water Management Authority presenting ‘before and after’
photographs of the renovated Canal facilities. The Navicula Association of Elblag Canal Admirers design temporary exhibitions here.
8. Multimedia room
In here, visitors can watch a short film about the Canal, produced by the Regional Water Management Authority. Upon request, films from the Mysteries of the Elblag Canal series can be screened, produced by the Navicula Association of Elblag Canal Admirers, in Polish and in English.
In this room, there is a painting of Georg Jacob Steenke by Adam Chmielewski, the winner of the 2014 competition. There is also a backlit map of the Elblag Canal, based on the archive documents from the Schmidt report of 1861.

The room features a portrait of Steenke by Adam Chmielewski, winner of the 2014 art competition organised by the NAVICULA Association.
9. Info
Monitors and interactive kiosks provide additional information.