Shetland Museum & Archives
Drop in and visit us at the Shetland Museum and Archives. We look forward to welcoming you.
October Holiday Workshops
Wed 15 Oct, 10am - 12noon
Hairst Family Fun Day
Fri 17 Oct, 10am - 11.30 or 2pm - 3.30pm
Trowie Faase Faces (Primary 1-4)
Wed 22 Oct, 9.30am - 11am
ASN Friendly Relaxed Morning Session
Fri 24 Oct, 10am - 11.30 or 2pm - 3.30pm
Halloween Candle Jars (Primary 4-7)
Slander, Theft and Violence in early seventeenth-century Shetland: a talk by John Shaw
Thursday 23 October
7pm - 8.30pm
Tickets - £5
In this lecture John Shaw will examine how slander was treated in the Sheriff Court operated by Earl Patrick Stewart and how this related to crimes like theft and assault.
Book your ticket
Spooky Shetland Stories (over 16s only)
Wednesday 29 October
7pm - 9pm
Tickets £10
Join us for a spooktacular night of ghostly tales and weird witchcraft, as we celebrate the time of year when the veil between the world of the living and the world of the dead is thinnest!
Archivist Brian Smith delves into a dark moment in Shetland’s past - the witchcraft trials of the 17th century - followed by 8 o'clocks, then settle in and get ready to hear bone-chilling stories that will send shivers down your spine.
Book your ticketWelcome to Shetland Museum and Archives
Our Five Star, award winning Museum and Archives is a multifunctional visitor attraction in the heart of Shetland's capital town of Lerwick. Begin your journey through the history of our beautiful islands here, with an enjoyable and interactive visitor experience discovering our world renowned collections. The Museum and Archives is managed by the Shetland Amenity Trust, a small charity caring for Shetland's natural and cultural heritage.
Visit Us
Shetland Museum & Archives is open. Drop in and visit us, no booking is necessary.
Collections
Visitors and researchers can explore the fascinating story of Shetland’s heritage and culture in one place, with access to a wealth of documents and artefacts covering all aspects of the islands' past at Shetland Museum and Archives.
Education & Research
Shetland Museum and Archives offers a comprehensive education programme, with access to workshops focussing on different areas of our collections, and outreach sessions in the community.
Online Resources
Access document and photo archives online, or download a choice of teaching resources, or visitor activity sheets.
Community Heritage
Shetland’s heritage is researched, collected and exhibited throughout the islands by a network of local museums and heritage centres. Each museum and heritage centre in Shetland is unique, highlighting the various and changing aspects of natural and cultural heritage in each area.
Venue & Event Hire
Shetland Museum and Archives offers first class venue facilities for hire in a stunning dockside location. From conferences and meetings, to weddings or birthday parties, our versatile spaces are suitable for any event.
Crofthouse Museum
Step back in time as you enter the traditional 19th century thatched crofthouse.
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Events
Events and activities during your visit
Shetland Museum and Archives are proud to offer a range of events for adults, children and famlies, covering a variety of themes throughout the year. Our own events are detailed below, or see the 'What's On' Calendar for all public events and exhibition listings for the building.
ViewShetland Museum Socials - drop-in
Come along to our informal Shetland Museum Socials running fortnightly on ...
ViewHairst Family Fun
Celebrate the season at our Hairst Family Fun Morning at the Shetland Museum! ...
ViewTrowie Faase Faces (Primary 1-4)
Draw your own trowie face and turn it into a mask. Have fun playing with ...
ViewASN Friendly Relaxed Morning Session
A safe and welcoming morning for children with additional support needs and ...
Exhibitions
Displays, Exhibitions and Gadderie Shows
There are a number of exhibition spaces and feature display areas throughout the Museum and Archives building. The artefacts and works on display change regularly and details of our current shows are listed here.
Current
ViewDegree Show Exhibition with Heriot Watt University
During 2024 Jamieson & Smith collaborated with Heriot Watt University on an ...
ViewTextile Heritage in Focus
The Shetland Museum Photo Archive is a unique resource with over 80,000 images ...
ViewShetland Sheep Society Tapestries and Woollens
To mark its 40th anniversary, the Shetland Sheep Society presents a textile ...
View'Mootie's Hoos' by Helen Acklam
A mixed media exhibition that explores the powerful connection between people, ...
Latest Blog Posts
Keep up to date with new stories and details of what our researchers are doing to preserve and promote Shetland's heritage and culture.
Sumburgh airport in the log books (1958 - 2010)
Archives assistant, Angus Johnson, has been working with our collection of Sumburgh airport movement logs (D1/236, 1958-2010). They ...
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The Home Guard
One day Brian Smith, archivist, was walking along King Harald Street. He met someone whose late husband had been a key actor in the ...
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Support Us
Shetland Museum and Archives is managed by Shetland Amenity Trust, a charitable organisation dedicated to safeguarding, enhancing, and promoting Shetland's heritage. Our mission is to ensure that Shetland’s history and culture remain accessible for everyone to enjoy - now and for generations to come.
Your generosity plays a vital role in making this possible. Donations directly support the care, preservation, and display of our collections, artefacts, and archives and help us to continue to share Shetland’s story with our community and visitors.
Every gift makes a difference. Thank you.
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Join our mailing list
Sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest news, events, exhibitions and behind-the-scenes stories from Shetland Amenity Trust.
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