She said: “I can’t stop looking at it. It’s amazing to see my design in here.

“There’s such a variety of different looks, everyone’s represented from Goths to the ultratrendies, and that’s true for the whole museum – it shows lots of different Liverpool looks, not just the Scouse stereotypes.”

George McCain, of Liverpool youth arts group Yellowhouse, also took part in the public consultation exercise and was one of 400 golden ticket holders – made up of community groups and local people who have helped create the displays – to be given a early morning preview of the collections.

He said: “For my generation, history was always taught from a book and it was always about somebody rich, a king or a general. To come around a museum and see the wealth of history of the real people of Liverpool – that’s what I think is great.”

Three main galleries opened during yesterday’s launch: Wondrous Place, focusing on the city’s arts and sporting achievements; People’s Republic, exploring the experience of living in Liverpool, and Global City, looking at Liverpool’s history as the second city of the British Empire.

The second phase, comprising the History Detectives, Great Port, Kings Regiment and Liverpool Overhead Railway galleries, will follow later this year.

The Museum of Liverpool is expected to attract more than 750,000 visitors a year, including more than 100,000 visits from schools and other education providers, generating a £15m boost to the city’s economy.

Pam Wilsher, head of tourism development at regeneration body The Mersey Partnership, said: “We think about a third of those will be first time visitors to the city.

“We are very fortunate to be opening a major new visitor attraction at a time when people are cutting back and closing venues.”