Search our photo archive

View hundreds of photos from Shetland's past

We have a huge collection of old Shetland photos on our online photo archive where you can search for everything from Casting Paets to the St. Clair. You can even order printed copies.


Now more than ever we need your support

We hope you enjoy our free online activities. The Shetland Museum and Archives is managed by the Shetland Amenity Trust, a small charity caring for Shetland's natural and cultural heritage. We are a free to visit museum and any donations are welcomed to help the Trust care for the collections and our heritage both now and in the future.

Other ways to support us include...


Search our photo archive Blog Posts

Research team examines Shetland's Hanseatic ceramic collection

During the global pandemic, we saw the impact that change and disruption caused to international trade and supply of goods, but it was ...

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Gunnister Man Coins

Over 70 years after his discovery in a Northmavine peat bog, Gunnister Man continues to intrigue. Last week Shetland Museum curator, ...

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Beltane Festival

We're all familiar with calendar customs. Those we have in Shetland today (with one notable exception in late January!) are identical ...

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Why burn peats?

As part of the Between Islands project, Shetland’s new online exhibition, ‘Fair Game’ examines three customs that are now ...

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A present from Lerwick?

Some artefacts are interesting for what they tell us, and others are simply nice to look at. Here's one that's both. On the face of ...

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Why hunt whales?

Pilot whales were important to islanders’ survival, providing many useful products. Subsistence whaling was unpredictable, because ...

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Grayson Perry: Behind the Scenes

We caught up with Curator of the Shetland Museum and Archives, Dr Ian Tait, to find out just what's involved in bringing the work of a ...

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