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.

View our full opening times

Inside Visit Us

Hay's Dock by the Dowry

Café/restaurant at Shetland Museum’s historic Hay’s Dock.

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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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Crofthouse Museum

The Shetland Crofthouse Museum is now open daily for the 2024 summer season.

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Galleries

Visit our Museum Galleries

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Archives Searchroom

Visit the Archives searchroom

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Gift Shop

Our gift shop offers a range of products which are inspired by the Museum and Archive collections, and reflect and celebrate Shetland's unique culture and heritage.

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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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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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Visit Us Blog Posts

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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Bringing biodiversity and history into the (outdoors) classroom

The Crofthouse Museum has closed after a busy season and it’s been so good to see folk back again. One project we delivered over ...

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October Workshops Programme

Join us throughout the bairns' October holidays for a host of heritage inspired craft activities with some spooky Halloween fun too!

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Crofthouse Museum and Shetland Museum closed Monday 19 September

The Shetland Museum and Archives and Crofthouse Museum will both be closed on Monday 19 September for the State Funeral of Her Majesty ...

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HRH Queen Elizabeth

We are deeply saddened by the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.

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Alexander Wallace

A very welcome book came out recently. Developed from a Ph.D., 'Shetland Boats: Origin, Evolution and Use', by Dr Marc Chivers ...

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Archivist Brian Smith receives distinguished service award

We’re delighted that Brian Smith’s dedication to Shetland’s historical records has been recognised with a distinguished service ...

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Shetland Museum closed Saturday (6 Aug) afternoon

Shetland Museum is closing at 2.00pm this Saturday 6 August.

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Da Wadder

The weather is never far from conversation here, and it hasn’t been a great summer. Some good days though, and on July 19 the ...

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Maggie Helen Under Sail

The Maggie Helen was under sail last night for the first time in over 100 years.

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Temporary diversion at the Museum as the Maggie Helen is on the move

There will be a temporary car park closure and access diversion in place at Hay’s Dock at the Shetland Museum and Archives from the ...

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Land of Straw Art Exhibition

Opening today, Berenice Carrington’s exhibition at the Shetland Museum and Archives focuses on the agricultural cycle of growing ...

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The Laurel

The Shetland Times, 12 October 1907 reported an important event at the Ness. Harry Irvine of Glenfield got a Fifie fishing boat, the ...

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Join the guest list for BBC Radio 4’s Any Questions at Shetland Museum and Archives

It’s your chance to ask a question and influence the debate as BBC Radio 4’s Any Questions is coming to Shetland Museum and ...

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