Visit Us
Shetland Museum & Archives is open. Drop in and visit us, no booking is necessary.
Free to visit - As always, entry to the Museum and Archives is free but now more than ever we need your support - please consider making a donation.
Online Resources
Inside Visit Us
Crofthouse Museum
The Shetland Crofthouse Museum is now closed and will reopen in May for the 2026 season.
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Archives Searchroom
The Archives searchroom is a comfortable, quiet space which is open to anyone who wishes to find out more about a particular subject, or just browse books, newspapers or records in the collection.
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Closed: Hays Dock Café
It is with regret that we announce the closure of 'Hay's Dock by The Dowry', which was operated by Beervana Ltd. Unfortunately, despite efforts to remain open, securing the necessary staff has not been possible which has resulted in a mutual end of t...
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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.
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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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Accessibility
We want to make sure we continue to offer an excellent experience for all visitors with additional needs .
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Hugh MacDiarmid and Valda’s Whalsay story brought to life in new exhibition at Shetland Museum and Archives
Shetland Museum and Archives will open its new exhibition ‘Outwith: Valda, MacDiarmid and Whalsay’ to the public this Saturday (28 ...
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Easter Holiday Events
Join us this Easter for a special programme of family activities inspired by our upcoming exhibition Outwith: Valda, MacDiarmid and ...
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A Tribute to Wendy Gear
The life and work of Wendy Gear reveal how a single family story - rooted in loss, memory, and the upheavals of 19th-century Shetland ...
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Celebrating Valda Grieve this International Women’s Day
Valda was an incomer to Whalsay in 1933, when she moved there with her young son Michael to join her husband. Born in Cornwall in ...
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Outwith: Valda, MacDiarmid and Whalsay - Event Programme
The story of Hugh MacDiarmid and Valda in Whalsay continues to inspire nearly a century on. Discover their legacy through a vibrant ...
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We are hiring!
If you’re passionate about Shetland’s cultural heritage and want to make a real difference helping to protect, celebrate and share ...
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New exhibition celebrates gifted Shetland craftsman, Bobby Simpson
A special exhibition celebrating the life and crafting skills of Robert Gilbert Blance Simpson (1928 – 1974) opens at Shetland ...
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Up Helly Aa 2026 - what's on at the Shetland Museum
Join us at the Shetland Museum & Archives as we celebrate Up Helly Aa 2026 with extended opening times, Origins of UHA tours, a food ...
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Shetland Amenity Trust unveils Up Helly Aa 2026 events
The fiery season will soon return and Shetland Amenity Trust is preparing a varied programme of events and ...
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November Round Up
From heritage events and restoration projects to new additions in the archives and activities from schools and families, here's a look ...
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September & October Monthly Round-Up
What a whirlwind the past couple of months have been at the Shetland Amenity Trust. From welcoming school groups to hosting tours to ...
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The Story of the Black Book
This week’s 'Shetland Spooky Stories' event was a big hit. One tale that especially gripped our audience was 'The Black Book', ...
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A New Chapter for Bressay Lighthouse
Shetland Amenity Trust is preparing to release Bressay Lighthouse for sale, working with Savills estate agents to find a new custodian ...
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From Peatlands to Petrels
Shetland Amenity Trust is inviting the public to experience Shetland’s extraordinary natural heritage through two very special, ...
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New Archaeological Toys on Display
We're delighted to unveil our latest archaeology display, Play in the Past, a fascinating new focus case that explores the timeless ...
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