Welcome

to Shetland Museum and Archives

Our Five Star, award winning Museum and Archives is a multifunctional visitor attraction in the heart of Shetland's capital town of Lerwick. Begin your journey through the history of our beautiful islands here, with an enjoyable and interactive visitor experience discovering our world renowned collections.

Visit Us

A warm welcome awaits you at Shetland Museum and Archives. Join us for a journey through Shetland’s past with our informative displays and interactive exhibits. Relax in Hay's Dock Cafe Restaurant and pick up a souvenir of your visit from the Gift Shop.

Collections

Visitors and researchers can explore the fascinating story of Shetland’s heritage and culture in one place, with access to a wealth of documents and artefacts covering all aspects of the islands' past at Shetland Museum and Archives.

Education & Research

Shetland Museum and Archives offers a comprehensive education programme, with access to workshops focussing on different areas of our collections, and outreach sessions in the community.

Online Resources

Access document and photo archives online, or download a choice of teaching resources, or visitor activitity sheets.

Community Heritage

Shetland’s heritage is researched, collected and exhibited throughout the islands by a network of local museums and heritage centres. Each museum and heritage centre in Shetland is unique, highlighting the various and changing aspects of natural and cultural heritage in each area.

Venue & Event Hire

Shetland Museum and Archives offers first class venue facilities for hire in a stunning dockside location. From conferences and meetings, to weddings or birthday parties, our versatile spaces are suitable for any event.

Opening Times

Museum
Monday to Saturday: 10.00am to 5.00pm
Sunday: 12.00pm to 5.00pm
Archives
Monday to Friday: 10.00am to 4.30pm
Saturday and Sunday: Closed
Hay’s Dock Café Restaurant
Monday to Wednesday: 10.00am to 4.00pm (last orders 2.30pm for hot food)
Thursday to Saturday: 10.00am to 3.00pm (last orders 2.30pm for hot food) and 5.00pm to 11.00pm (last orders 8.30pm for hot foot)
Sunday: 12.00pm to 4.00pm (last orders 3.30pm for hot food)
Crofthouse Museum
1st May to 30th September 2018, Tuesday to Sunday: 10.00am to 1.00pm (closed from 1.00pm - 2.00pm) and 2.00pm to 4.00pm
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Photo Archive

Scotland's most extensive photo archive

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Gift Shop

Unique gifts and souvenirs with a heritage theme

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Collections

Explore the Archives and Museum Artefacts

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Hay's Dock Café Restaurant

Fresh local fayre with stunning dockside views

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Events

Events and activities during your visit

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Crofthouse Museum

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Events

Events and activities during your visit

Shetland Museum and Archives are proud to offer a range of events for adults, children and famlies, covering a variety of themes throughout the year.Our own events are detailed below, or see the 'What's On' Calendar for all public events and exhibition listings for the building.

Self Guided Tour of Hay's Dock
07/08/2017
10:00am - 5:00pm

Collect a guide sheet from reception and take a self-guided tour around the historic Hay's Dock to learn about its fascinating past.

Exhibition of 'North Boats'
07/08/2017
10:00am - 5:00pm

Shetland Museum has an impressive collection of photographs and models of generations of ‘North Boats'. A selection of these will be on display in the upper foyer.

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Mootie Moose - Brilliant Boats
07/08/2017
10:00am - 10:00am

Join Mootie Moose to discover the Brilliant Boats around at Boat Week.

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Vaila Mae boat trip
07/08/2017
10:30am - 3:00pm

Join our experienced crew for a trip in the sixareen, Vaila Mae, to experience traditional dipping lug sailing.

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Exhibitions

Displays, Exhibitions and Gadderie Shows

There are a number of exhibition spaces and feature display areas throughout the Museum and Archives building. The artefacts and works on display change regularly and details of our current shows are listed here.

Current

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Holbein Exhibition
04/05/2018 - 15/07/2018

The National Gallery Masterpiece Tour 2018: 4 May to 15 July. Hans Holbein the Younger - A Lady with a Squirrel and a Starling, (Anne Lovell?), about 1526-8, oil on oak

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Angela Hunt – ‘Shetland Locations’
19/05/2018 - 24/06/2018

Paintings in the exhibition depict landscape and heritage informed by influences from design and fine art perspectives.

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Tom Teasdale - ‘Sunny Intervals’
26/05/2018 - 24/06/2018

A photographic exhibition commissioned by the cultural attaché of the European Commission in the UK. The London based photographer is exhibiting a collection of black and white photographs documenting aspects of living on some of the furthest reaches of the United Kingdom in Scotland, focusing on Shetland, Orkney and the Outer Hebrides.

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Shetland Family History Society - Focus Display
02/06/2018 - 15/07/2018

This year the Society has been researching the Shetland family name ‘Robertson’. The exhibition in the upper foyer combines their research and a selection of artefacts from the Museum’s collection.

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Latest News

Keep up to date with new stories and details of what our staff are doing to preserve and promote Shetland's heritage and culture .

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The National Gallery Masterpiece Tour 2018
04/05/2018

Five hundred years after the dazzling genius of Hans Holbein, a painting by one of the greatest portraitists of all time can now be seen in Shetland.

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Holbein Comes to Shetland
27/04/2018

The countdown has begun! We are delighted to say that today marks one week until the public opening of 'A Lady with a Squirrel and a Starling' by Hans Holbein in Da Gadderie. This painting will be visiting us from 4th May until 15th July and is being loaned by the National Gallery as part of their Masterpiece Tour 2018.