Opened in 1997, the fantastic Museo Guggenheim is Bilbao`s showpiece. The North American architect Frank Gehry designed the extraordinary building of limestone, titanium and glass beside the River Nervion, and its structure of interconnecting shapes is said to resemble both a fish and the hull of a boat. The lofty, glass atruim is over 150 feet high. Most of the 19 galleries, which are on three levels, are used for temporary modern and contemporary exhibitions by major artists.