Stromness Museum
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The Internationally significant artefacts at Stromness Museum reflect Orkney’s historic standing as the crossroads of the maritime world.
Stromness Museum is one of Scotland's oldest independent museums and incorporates archaeological, social, maritime and natural history. Fascinating objects rom the mid-16th century onwards, bartered from visiting ships and brought back by Orcadians from all over the world, are housed in a 160 year-old building.
It was here that Captain James Cook's ships stopped by in the year after his death, with the crew trading supplies for Polynesian pole clubs that are still on display at the museum today.
Rare finds
The museum showcases outstanding natural history collections, some of which are so significant that they're available to view by appointment only. Alongside rare finds, such as the 150m year-old spine of a Plesiosaur, are around 700 objects from the famous archaeological excavations at Skara Brae.
Maritime history
The museum covers all aspects of the rich local maritime past, including collections of ship models, paintings of ships, and handicrafts such as ships-in-bottles, reflecting the connections that so many Orcadian families had with the sea. Also on display are artefacts and material reflecting Orkney's strategic importance during both world wars.
Further highlights include artefacts relating to deep sea sailors, shipbuilding, the herring fishing industry, the Orkney yole, lifeboats, light houses and ship wrecks.
Visitor information
Address
Stromness Museum, 52 Alfred Street, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3DF
01856 850025
Opening times
Mon-Sat 10am-1pm and 1.45pm-5pm
Sunday 11am-4pm
Visitor information
Museums nearby
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.