This book reviews four decades of debate about restoring an industrial heritage site of inestimable value - the Venice Arsenal. It reveals how failing to address these aspects has undermined potential solutions from both technicians and heritage professionals.

Part I - A reminder: on the importance of the Arsenal in the history of administration 1. History of management and stratigraphy of organizing Luca Zan 2. From manufacturing to industry: the turn in the late 19th century Pasquale Ventrice Part II - The state of the art: protection, preservation and re-use 3. The recovery of the Arsenal: the process from 1980 until today Claudio Menichelli 4. The role of the Agenzia del Demanio (State Property Agency) in enhancing the Arsenal Ettore Cammarata 5. The Società Arsenale di Venezia (SAV): from state control to municipal control Roberto D'Agostino 6. Some comments from a management studies perspective Luca Zan Part III - A controversial issue: museum and open access 7. Towards a museum of the Arsenal: home of Venetian civilization, history and shipbuilding Camillo Tonini 8. The Arsenal Museum: issues of spaces availability and accessibility Franco Mancuso 9. The National Museum of Naval History: a reconstruction of the project Claudio Menichelli 10. Scenarios for the Arsenal Museum: back to management Luca Zan Part IV - A research agenda: international perspectives on the Arsenal as tangible and intangible heritage 11. The Arsenal as intangible heritage: between historical meanings and re-uses Luca Zan 12. The Venice Arsenal, singular but not unique: towards a survey of Historic Naval Shipyards in Europe Valentina Gambelli 13. The heritization of Historic Naval Shipyards in Europe Paolo Ferri, Pegram Harrison, Luca Zan Conclusions: a policy agenda to not forget Luca Zan