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Shetland Museum & Archives are temporarily CLOSED due to a heating fault which has impacted water supply.

Free to visit - As always, entry to the Museum and Archives will be free but now more than ever we need your support - please consider making a donation.

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Social distancing and safety measures

Archives Booking

Book online for the Archives at the link below, alternatively you can phone us on 01595 695057.

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Archives Bookings

We have a booking system in place for Archives visits. Book online at the link below or call us on 01595 695057.

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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

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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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Museum and Archives News

The BIG Takeover - Shetland 2018

November 15th 2017

Shetland Museum and Archives is working with other local agencies and young people as part of the Year of Young People in 2018.

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Boats on the Move

July 27th 2017

The Shetland Museum Boat Shed has had a transformation with the departure of the Oceanic Lifeboat - a long term resident during her ...

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Aith Junior High Pupils curate new exhibition at Shetland Museum and Archives

June 30th 2017

A new exhibition has been unveiled telling the story of the whaling ship, Diana. The display has been curated by pupils from P4/5 and ...

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10th Birthday Celebrations

May 25th 2017

To celebrate the milestone 10th birthday, Shetland Museum and Archives staff are hosting a day of birthday celebrations on Saturday ...

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Museum and Archives News

Mathewson Lecture

March 22nd 2017

Eileen Brooke-Freeman will deliver a talk about the life of her ancestor Andrew Dishington Mathewson of East Yell (1799-1887) from her ...

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Shetland Museum and Archives goes virtual

March 8th 2017

Shetland Museum and Archives have embraced the world of virtual reality with a new app available from VisitScotland.

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Rare and Unique - Shetland's rare book collection

November 30th 2016

This December the Shetland Museum and Archives are focusing on the rare and unique Shetland book collection they look after for the ...

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Littoral Art Project gives pupils a new perspective on beach litter

October 25th 2016

School pupils will be engaging with the Gadderie exhibition in coming weeks.

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Supporting Dementia Friends

July 13th 2016

Shetland Museum and Archives are proud to support Dementia Friends Scotland and recently took part in training to better understand ...

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Anniversary Events

June 29th 2016

Staff gathered for an official photo as the anniversary celebrations begin.

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A Summer of Anniversaries

June 20th 2016

Shetland Museum and Archives services are celebrating significant milestone anniversaries this summer.

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Shetland Boat Week Launched Today

April 13th 2016

The first Shetland Boat Week will take place between 8th and 14th August.

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New to Us Exhibition

March 30th 2016

A display of 'new to us' art is on display throughout the galleries and will be updated regularly during 2016/17.

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New Website Launched

February 1st 2016

Shetland Museum and Archives has, today, launched a new website.

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Photos in a Flash - Instant Photo Printing

December 8th 2015

Visitors to Shetland Museum and Archives can now access instant prints from a wide range of popular photo archive images from the ...

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