Larne Museum and Arts Centre facts for kids

Larne Museum and Arts Centre is a cool place in Larne, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, where you can learn about local history and enjoy art. It's located in an old building that has a lot of history itself!

A Building with a Story

From Library to Museum

The building where Larne Museum and Arts Centre is today was built way back in 1905. It first opened its doors in 1906 as the Carnegie Free Library. This was possible thanks to money from a rich American, Mr. Andrew Carnegie, who helped build many libraries.

The library cost £2500 to build and was officially opened on April 2, 1906. Colonel J M McCalmont, a Member of Parliament, did the honors. The library later moved to a bigger building in 1980.

How the Museum Began

The idea for a local museum started in 1972. Local people wanted a place to keep their history, and the Larne Borough Council gave £300 to help. The Larne Historical Centre first opened in a room at the old Carnegie Library.

In 1976, the Centre moved to Larne Town Hall. But it returned to its original home, the old Carnegie Library building, in June 1983.

A Modern Makeover

In 2005, the building was fixed up and made new again to celebrate its 100th birthday. Many of its original features were kept, so it still looks historic. Today, the building is also a home for the Larne Drama Circle and the Larne Art Club.

What You Can See

The Main Gallery: Larne's Past

The Main Gallery has displays that show the history of the area. You can learn about farming, factories, the military, and ships. Larne is an important port, so there are many exhibits about its strong links to the sea.

You can see things about the first roll-on, roll-off ferries and the Royal Navy. There are also displays about the MV Princess Victoria disaster, a sad but important event in local history.

The museum also shows what life was like in the countryside around Larne. This area includes two of the nine beautiful Glens of Antrim. In the War and Conflict section, you'll find items from the Home Rule Crisis, the Larne gun-running (when weapons were brought into the area), and the First and Second World Wars.

Visitors can listen to stories from local people at special listening posts. You can also look through old photographs in a digital archive.

The John Clifford Gallery: Changing Exhibits

The ‘John Clifford Gallery’ is a special space for temporary exhibitions. These displays change throughout the year, so there's always something new to see! The center also hosts fun family events.

This gallery is named after John Clifford, who was the museum's very first curator. John was a local actor, poet, and musician. He loved local history and helped start the Larne & District Folklore Society in 1968. This group worked hard to get a local museum, and John became its first curator.

Who Manages the Museum?

The Mid and East Antrim Borough Council looks after Larne Museum. It's part of the Mid-Antrim Heritage Partnership. This partnership also includes other local museums in Ballymena, Carrickfergus, and Newtownabbey.