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 .
Read moreVisit Us Blog Posts
Don't Stop Me Now - Up Helly Aa 2023
Hit's been a miss. They last visited in 2020, last Tuesday in January as always, and just before the deluge. That last Tuesday in 2021 ...
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The ‘Harriet’ unveiling honours phenomenal fundraising effort
Last night saw the official unveiling of the ‘Harriet’ portrait at a civic ceremony at Shetland Museum and Archives (Sunday 29 ...
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Special UHA 2023 Events and Extended Opening Times
Visit the Shetland Museum and Archives during Up Helly Aa week - discover our world renowned collections, explore our Viking past and ...
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30th anniversary of the Braer oil disaster
January in Shetland is usually dark, wet, and stormy, enlivened by a few celebrations of Old Christmas and New Year. The excitement ...
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Shetland Museum and Archives closed
Shetland Museum and Archives and Hay's Dock by the Dowry will be closed today (Wed 14 December)
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Straw Crafts Club Update
We’re into the fourth week of our winter evening craft sessions using oat straw, and it’s been really encouraging to see the ...
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End of an era - last orders at tearooms
For more than a century there’s been a tearoom at the south end of Commercial Street, between the Post Office and the Tolbooth.
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Remembering George P.S. Peterson
George P.S. Peterson died recently at the age of 90. He was a notable archival source, teacher, writer, storyteller, folk dancer, and ...
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Art’s Cool Exhibition Review by Paul Bloomer
The Gadderie at Shetland Museum and Archives has been transformed into what can only be described as an overwhelming and overflowing ...
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Shipwrecks in Shetland - the latest
We were delighted to have maritime archaeologists, Colin and Paula Martin back with us last week to record finds from three East India ...
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School talent on display in new ‘Art’s Cool’ exhibition in Da Gadderie
A colourful new schools’ art exhibition opens on Saturday 12 November in Da Gadderie at Shetland Museum and Archives.
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Shetland Museum open evening kicks off traditional straw crafts winter club
Shetland Museum and Archives is launching a series of winter evening sessions which will focus on craft techniques using oat straw and ...
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New exhibition celebrates the artwork of John Johnson: Hobby Artist at Sea
A new exhibition of paintings by Shetland resident John Johnson will be launched in the Shetland Museum and Archives on Friday 4 ...
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Who's afraid of the njuggel?
Halloween wouldn’t be the same without a fair sprinkling of supernatural beings such as ghosts, vampires and werewolves, but ...
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