Get ready for 26 centuries of history witnessed through scale models, boxes of Marseille soap, and some very old stones. The oldest reside in the museum's garden out front, discovered during the building of a shopping mall, which made up Marseille's original port. Dates entered Europe from this historic harbor, and most probably tomatoes and bananas too. If anything, France's largest urban history museum proves that locals have always loved wine, sailing, bold statues, and fine linens.