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The Shetland Museum is now open with a booking system in place.

The Shetland Museum is open by pre booking only on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday from 10am – 4pm and Sunday from 12.00pm – 4.30pm.
Pre-book to get exclusive use of our museum facilities – as always, entry to the Museum and Archives will be free with donations welcome. Click here to view our full opening times.

We also have new social distancing and safety measures in place. Find out more at the links below.

Free to visit

Your booking and visit is FREE but now more than ever we need your support - please consider making a donation.

Inside Visit Us / Book

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Book

We have a booking system in place to allow visitors exclusive use of the Museum and Archives and we are providing longer slots to give people time to browse at their leisure.

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NEW - What to expect when you visit

We've been working hard to make sure that your visit will still be safe and enjoyable. Find out more about our social distancing and hygiene measures.

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Galleries

Visit our Museum Galleries - booking essential.

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Archives Searchroom

Visit the Archives searchroom - booking essential.

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Picnic Area

Our cafe is currently closed but you are welcome to bring a picnic.

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Tours

Make the most of your visit with us and join us on a tour to ensure you see the highlights of our museum and our Recognised Collections.

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Gift Shop

You can visit our wonderful gift shop when you com and visit us in the Museum and Archives - you must wear a face covering.

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Activities

Whatever your reason for visiting us at Shetland Museum and Archives, there are a range of activities on offer to ensure you can make the most of your time with us.

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Hay's Dock

Shetland Museum and Archives sits on Hay’s Dock; the last remaining area of original dock on the Lerwick waterfront, which is now category B listed. This is a perfect setting to highlight the strong heritage connection with the sea, and display just some of the traditional Shetland boats in the collection.

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Boat Shed

The Boat Shed, located at the left of the building dates from around 1900, although this particular site has been a place for boatbuilding and repair since the 1820s, with the first shed built in 1844 by Hay & Company. Today, the Boat Shed provi...

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Public Art

Shetland Amenity Trust commissioned over 60 individual artworks as part of its Shetland Museum and Archives Public Art Project. These are on show throughout the building and dock, some even appearing alongside the artefacts and documents in the galleries and Archives.

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Visit Us / Book Blog Posts

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ExhibitionsMuseum and Archives News

Visit the Fair Isle Chairs exhibition from the comfort of your own armchair

April 27th 2021

The Shetland Museum and Archives are delighted to extend their learning programme online with the launch of a new video exploring the ...

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HistoryMuseum and Archives News

The Man Behind the Lowrie Stories

April 20th 2021

Sometime in the 1920s a middle-aged businessman in Lerwick began to write stories. He didn’t write about his native town. The hero ...

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Museum and Archives NewsHistory

His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

April 12th 2021

We are saddened to hear of the passing of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

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HistoryCuratorMuseum and Archives NewsExhibitions

Why burn peats?

March 22nd 2021

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

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Museum and Archives News

Shetland Amenity Trust reopens Shetland Museum and Archives

March 1st 2021

The Shetland Amenity Trust will reopen its doors to the public at the Shetland Museum and Archives this week following careful ...

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Museum and Archives NewsArchivesHistory

Get Your Skates On!

February 24th 2021

The weather has changed, the temperature risen, wind and rain are back, the frosty winter fun gone. In 1909 though, one organisation ...

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Museum and Archives NewsCuratorExhibitionsHistory

Why hunt whales?

February 15th 2021

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

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HistoryMuseum and Archives NewsArchives

St Sunniva's Tableware

February 11th 2021

The pandemic meant no cruise liners came to Lerwick, but not many Shetlanders realise that an important one lies on the seabed at ...

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Museum and Archives NewsArchivesHistory

Winter Sports

February 11th 2021

We’ve had a fine spell of weather of late, snowy, frosty, crispy. Out for a walk one day I was told someone had been spotted skiing, ...

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HistoryExhibitionsMuseum and Archives News

Why hunt fowl?

January 26th 2021

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

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Museum and Archives News

Missing Crowds

January 25th 2021

Today is the last Tuesday in January and would traditionally be Up Helly Aa day 2021. This is a much anticipated date for many ...

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ArchivesHistoryMuseum and Archives News

Up Helly Aa has a most interesting history

January 19th 2021

With the cancellation of Up Helly Aa there will be no torchlit procession, galley burning or all night partying this year. These ...

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Museum and Archives NewsHistory

'Fair Game’ a major new online exhibition launched as part of the Between Islands project

January 5th 2021

The project highlights the historical cultural links between the islands of Shetland, Orkney, and the Outer Hebrides, while exploring ...

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Museum and Archives News

Museum and Archives to remain closed

December 29th 2020

Shetland Museum and Archives will remain closed to the public after the festive period due to the latest advice from NHS Shetland on ...

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ExhibitionsMuseum and Archives NewsHistory

New Baltic ware collection on display for the first time at Shetland Museum

December 15th 2020

A collection of colourful Skovi Kapps which highlight Shetland’s trading and maritime links with Russia during the 19th century is ...

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Opening Times / Admission