Museum of the Scottish Shale Oil Industry facts for kids
The Museum of the Scottish Shale Oil Industry opened in 1990. Its main goal is to keep alive the story of the shale oil industry. This industry was very important in West Lothian, Scotland, and other places. The museum is located at Millfield, close to Livingston. It is built on the site of an old mill. The museum is also part of the Almond Valley Heritage Centre, which is a big farm and play area.
Contents
What is Shale Oil?
Shale oil is a type of oil found in rocks called oil shale. People used to heat these rocks to get the oil out. This oil was then used for things like lighting and fuel. The shale oil industry was a big part of Scotland's history. It provided many jobs and helped power homes and factories.
Where to Find the Museum
The Museum of the Scottish Shale Oil Industry is inside the Almond Valley Heritage Centre. You will find it in the main reception area. This makes it easy to visit both the museum and the heritage centre.
What the Museum Collects
The museum has three main collections of items. These collections help tell the story of the shale oil industry.
The Scottish Shale Oil Collection
This collection started when the museum opened in 1990. It has many different items. You can see old tools, photographs, and maps. All these things are connected to the shale industry.
The Reference Collection
This collection works alongside the main museum collection. It mostly contains copies of photos and documents. Some of these items do not have a clear history of where they came from.
The BP Archive
In 2013, the University of Warwick gave the BP Archive to the museum. This was done so that more people could see these important documents. The archive mainly has papers and photos. These items are about six shale oil companies that existed in the 1910s. It also includes information about the company that later took them over.
The museum is currently working on a big project. They are making digital copies of almost all their items. This means that soon, about 95% of the collection will be available to see online. Many helpful volunteers are doing this important work.
Museum Exhibitions
The museum has different displays for visitors to explore.
Permanent Exhibition
There is a permanent display that you can always see. It shows the industrial history of the shale industry. It also tells the social history, which means how people lived and worked during that time.
Temporary Exhibitions
The museum also has special temporary exhibitions. These displays change every few months. In the past, these temporary shows have focused on interesting topics. For example, they have featured the sport of quoiting, the Burngrange Disaster, and even pit ponies.
As of August 2025, the current temporary exhibition was created by museum volunteers. It highlights items from the collection that are special to them.
Museum Recognition
The museum's collection is considered very important for the whole country. It is known as a Nationally Significant Collection. The museum also has "Accredited" status. This means it meets high standards for how it cares for its collections and serves the public.
External Links
- Museum of the Scottish Shale Oil Industry website
- Almond Valley Heritage Centre website
