Orkney Museum
The Orkney Museum boasts archaeological collections of international importance, including Neolithic and Pictish carved stones, and social history galleries.
Housed within the historic Tankerness House, the museum sheds light on the Scottish archipelago's fascinating story. Discover over 100,000 artefacts, spanning 5,000 years stretching from the Stone Age right up to the modern era.
Intriguing archaeological finds
Through Orkney Museum’s nationally significant archaeology collection you can explore the lives of the area's earliest inhabitants through tools from Isbister Chambered Cairn, a Neolithic burial site.
Admire exquisite Bronze Age metalwork and delve into the world of the Picts with their enigmatic symbol stones. A highlight for many is the Viking whalebone plaque, unearthed from the Scar boat burial.
Recent history
The museum doesn't just showcase ancient objects, several galleries highlight social history from the past several hundred years. A vast collection of old photographs offeri a glimpse into Orkney's past and the people that made it what it is today.
Rooms frozen in time
The museum is set in Tankerness House, originally built in the 1530s for cathedral clergy, it later became a grand family home for the Baikies of Tankerness for over three centuries until the 1950s. Explore the Baikie Library and Drawing Room, meticulously preserved to showcase what life was like for this prominent Orcadian family.
Visitor information
Address
Broad Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1DH
01856 873191
Opening times
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 10am - 12pm and 2pm - 4pm
Access is only available to the Baikie Library and Drawing Room and the temporary 'Between Islands' exhibition.
Visitor information
The more you see, the more we do.
The National Art Pass lets you enjoy free entry to hundreds of museums, galleries and historic places across the UK, while raising money to support them.