List of museums in Cornwall facts for kids

This page lists museums in Cornwall, England. Museums are special places that collect and take care of interesting objects. These objects can be about history, art, science, or culture. Museums then show these collections to the public. This list also includes art galleries that are open to everyone.

Museums in Cornwall
Defunct Museums
See also
Images for kids

Museums in Cornwall

Historic Houses and Estates

Antony House (Antony): This beautiful house from the early 1700s is run by the National Trust. You can see old paintings, furniture, and fabrics here.
Cotehele (Calstock): Another National Trust property, this Tudor house shows off tapestries, weapons, and old furniture. It also has lovely gardens.
Godolphin Estate (Godolphin Cross): This historic Tudor/Stuart mansion, also run by the National Trust, has beautiful old gardens.
Lanhydrock (Helston): A grand Victorian country estate with amazing gardens, managed by the National Trust.
Mary Newman's Cottage (Saltash): A 17th-century cottage. People say it was the home of explorer Sir Francis Drake's first wife.
Mount Edgcumbe House (Cremyll): A 16th-century house that has been restored to look like it did in the 1700s. It features art, tapestries, and beautiful gardens.
Pencarrow (Bodmin): An 18th-century mansion with lovely gardens.
Port Eliot (St Germans): A large country mansion with gardens and a museum about local stories and traditions.
Prideaux Place (Padstow): A country mansion with royal portraits, fine furniture, and a special collection of porcelain. It also has beautiful gardens.
St Michael's Mount (St Michael's Mount): You can tour this island castle, which is run by the National Trust.
Tintagel Old Post Office (Tintagel): This unique place is a 19th-century post office inside a 14th-century farmhouse, run by the National Trust.
Trerice (Newquay): An Elizabethan manor house, also run by the National Trust. It has an orchard and even a collection of old lawnmowers!

Art Galleries and Studios

Barbara Hepworth Museum (St Ives): This museum is the studio and home of famous 20th-century sculptor Barbara Hepworth.
The Exchange (Penzance): This is a sister gallery to Newlyn Art Gallery, showing modern art.
Falmouth Art Gallery (Falmouth): This gallery has a wide range of art, from old masters to modern painters, and even children's book illustrations.
Leach Pottery (St Ives): A studio focused on art pottery from the 20th century.
Newlyn Art Gallery (Newlyn): A gallery dedicated to contemporary art.
North Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery (Camelford): Features local history, art, and pottery.
Penlee House (Penzance): This museum displays paintings by artists from the Newlyn School.
Tate St Ives (St Ives): This art gallery shows works by modern British artists, especially those from the St Ives School.

Mining and Industry Museums

Camborne School of Mines Museum (Tremough): Learn about mining and geology here.
Charlestown Shipwreck & Heritage Centre (Charlestown): This centre covers the history of diving, shipwrecks, and also mining and minerals.
Cornish Mines and Engines (Pool): See old engine houses and learn about Cornwall's industrial past.
Geevor Tin Mine (Pendeen): Explore a former tin mine and learn about its history.
Heartlands (Pool): This is a regenerated mining area with an interactive exhibition about Cornish mining heritage. It also has a restored engine house and gardens. Entry is free!
King Edward Mine Museum (Camborne): Visit this former tin mine to see how it worked.
Levant Mine and Beam Engine (Trewellard): A visitor centre for a former copper and tin mine, with a working steam engine.
Poldark Mine (Wendron): Another former tin mine you can explore.
Tolgus Tin Mill (Tolgus Mount): A working tin mill where you can see how tin was processed.
Wheal Martyn China Clay Country Park (Treverbyn): Discover the history of the china clay mining industry and the communities that grew around it.

Local History and Culture Museums

Bodmin Town Museum (Bodmin): Learn about the history, culture, and industries of Bodmin.
Callington Heritage Centre (Callington): Covers the history, culture, mining, and farming in the Callington area.
Constantine Museum (Constantine): Explores the history, culture, mining, and agriculture of the Constantine area.
Elliott's Shop (Saltash): A historic grocery store that shows what shopping was like in the past.
Fowey Museum (Fowey): Focuses on the history, culture, and shipping of Fowey.
Gerrans Parish Heritage Centre (Gerrans): Learn about the history and culture of Gerrans.
Grampound with Creed Heritage Centre (Grampound): Explores the history of the area.
Hayle Heritage Centre (Hayle): Run by the Harvey’s Foundry Trust, it tells the story of Hayle.
Helston Museum (Helston): Covers the history, culture, art, and archaeology of Helston, including mining, fishing, and farming.
Isles of Scilly Museum (Hugh Town, St Mary's): This museum is currently "on the move" as they develop a new Cultural Centre and Museum. It focuses on the history of the Isles of Scilly.
Lawrence House Museum (Launceston): A Georgian house from 1753 with displays about local history.
Liskeard and District Museum (Liskeard): Learn about local history, mining, and even tin toys.
Looe Museum (Looe): Located in a 15th-century guildhall and prison, it has exhibits on history, culture, fishing, and mining.
Lostwithiel Museum (Lostwithiel): Covers the history, culture, and mining of Lostwithiel.
Luxulyan Museum and Heritage Centre (Luxulyan): Explores the history and culture of Luxulyan.
Marazion Museum (Marazion): Learn about the history, culture, mining, and agriculture of Marazion.
Mevagissey Museum (Mevagissey): Focuses on the history, culture, fishing, shipping, and smuggling in Mevagissey.
Newquay Heritage Archive & Museum (Newquay): Run by the Newquay Old Cornwall Society, it covers local history.
Padstow Museum (Padstow): Explores the history, culture, and maritime past of Padstow.
Penryn Museum (Penryn): Learn about the history and culture of Penryn.
Perranzabuloe Museum (Perranporth): Covers the history, culture, mining, fishing, and farming of the area.
Polperro Heritage Museum of Smuggling and Fishing (Polperro): Learn about the history of smuggling and fishing in Polperro.
Redruth Old Cornwall Society Museum (Redruth): Focuses on the history, culture, mining, and household items of Redruth.
Royal Cornwall Museum (Truro): This large museum has collections of art, archaeology, local history, natural history, geology, and even Egyptian artifacts.
Saltash Museum (Saltash): Run by Saltash Heritage, it covers local history, culture, and has a large archive of photos and documents.
St Agnes Museum (St Agnes): Explores the history, culture, mining, minerals, and maritime past of St Agnes.
St Hilary Heritage Centre (St Hilary): Located in the parish church, it covers local history.
St Ives Museum (St Ives): Learn about the history, culture, mining, fishing, and agriculture of St Ives.
Stuart House (Liskeard): A late medieval town house with exhibits about the English Civil War.
Wayside Folk Museum (Zennor): Focuses on local history and culture.

Special Interest Museums

Bodmin Jail (Bodmin): A former jail with exhibits about local criminals.
The Castle, Bude (Bude): This historic building, once home to inventor Sir Goldsworthy Gurney, now features exhibits on local history, the Bude Canal, maritime history, railways, and art. Entry is free!
Cornwall's Regimental Museum (Bodmin): Learn about the history of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry regiment.
Davidstow Airfield Cornwall at War Museum (Davidstow): Explores the history of this former World War II airfield and military life in the region.
Davidstow Moor RAF Memorial War Museum (Davidstow): Housed in a former shower block, it shows the airfield's wartime history with photos and local items.
Flambards Experience (Helston): An amusement park with museum exhibits showing Victorian shops and homes, life in Britain during The Blitz, and aviation.
Jamaica Inn (Bolventor): This famous inn has a museum about smuggling in the area and its connection to author Daphne du Maurier.
John Betjeman Centre (Wadebridge): Located in the old Wadebridge railway station, this centre celebrates the works and life of poet and author John Betjeman.
Launceston Steam Railway (Launceston): A heritage railway with a museum of vintage transport and machinery at the station.
Lizard Lighthouse Heritage Centre (Lizard Point): Learn about the history and important role of the Lizard Lighthouse.
Moseley Industrial Narorow Gauge Tramway and Toy Museum (Tolgus Mount): Open by appointment, this museum has vintage toys, model train layouts, and railroad items. You can even take narrow gauge train rides!
Museum of Witchcraft (Boscastle): This unique museum displays artifacts related to witchcraft and Wicca.
National Maritime Museum Cornwall (Falmouth): Home to the National Small Boat Collection, this museum explores Cornwall's maritime history and boat building.
Porthcurno Telegraph Museum (Porthcurno): Discover the fascinating history of telegraph cables and how they connected the world.
Shire Horse Farm and Carriage Museum (Redruth): A working horse farm with a collection of horse-drawn carriages.
Valhalla Museum (Tresco): An outdoor museum with figureheads and carvings from old sailing ships.

Defunct Museums

Barnes Museum of Cinematography, St Ives
British Cycling Museum, Camelford Station, Camelford
Cornwall Geological Museum, Penzance
Trevarno. This museum closed in 2012. It used to include the National Museum of Gardening.
Trinity House National Lighthouse Museum, Penzance

Images for kids

Antony House
Barbara Hepworth's workshop
Bodmin Jail
Inside Bodmin Town Museum
Charlestown Shipwreck & Heritage Centre
Cornwall's Regimental Museum
Cotehele House
Aircraft at Flambards Experience
Fowey Museum
Geevor Tin Mine
Godolphin Estate
Jamaica Inn
The John Betjeman Centre
King Edward Mine
Lanhydrock House
Launceston Steam Railway
Levant Mine
Liskeard and District Museum
Lizard Lighthouse Heritage Centre
Mary Newman's Cottage
Mount Edgcumbe House
National Maritime Museum Cornwall
Trerice House (also used for Newquay Heritage Archive & Museum)
Pencarrow House
Pendennis Castle
Penlee House
Poldark Mine
Port Eliot House
Prideaux Place
Saltash Museum
Tate St Ives
Tintagel Old Post Office
Wheal Martyn China Clay Country Park
The former British Cycling Museum at Camelford Station

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List of museums in Cornwall Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.