 At the same time, Caird began purchasing a wide range of historical artefacts, rare books, globes, nautical instruments, artwork, and shipmodels that were reported in 1934 to be worth in excess of £300,000.Parliament passed the National Maritime Museum Act in 1934 and King George VI opened the museum in April 1937, under the directorship of Sir Geoffrey Callender.Even after the opening of the museum, Caird continued to donate and support its work.