Shetland Museum facts for kids
The Shetland Museum and Archives is a cool museum located in Lerwick, Shetland, Scotland. It's a great place to discover the history and culture of the Shetland Islands! The museum's current building at Hay's Dock officially opened on May 31, 2007. It was a special day, opened by Queen Sonja of Norway and the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay (who are now King Charles III and Queen Camilla).
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A Look Back: The Old Museum
Before the current building, the Shetland Museum had a different home.
Where Was the First Museum?
On June 29, 1966, a library and museum building opened in Lerwick. It was located on Lower Hillhead and King Harald Street. The Lord Lieutenant of Shetland R. H. W. Bruce officially opened it.
Who Built It?
The Zetland County Council built this shared space in 1966. It was a home for both the museum and the Shetland Library.
The New Museum Building
The current Shetland Museum is much bigger and more modern.
How Much Did It Cost?
The new building cost about £11.6 million to build. A big part of this money, £4.9 million, came from a Heritage Lottery Fund grant. This new building replaced the smaller museum and library spaces in Lerwick.
Who Designed and Built It?
The main design team for the project was the Building Design Partnership. D.I.T.T. Construction Ltd. started building in 2004. The way the exhibits are displayed was designed by GBDM of Dundee, working with the museum's own staff.
What's Inside the New Building?
The new museum is a huge improvement! It has five times more space for exhibits. There's even a special three-story hall just for boats. The building also has a modern storage area for old records and a research room. Plus, there's a lecture hall that can seat 120 people, areas for temporary displays, and a cafe. The cafe tries to use as much local food as possible.
Awards for the Building
In April 2008, the Museum and Archives was nominated for the Art Prize Fund. This is a special award for museums and galleries. The building also won two awards at the 2008 Wood Awards. It won the "Commercial & Public Access" award and the top "Gold Award."
Exploring the Galleries
The museum's exhibits are spread across two floors.
Ground Floor Exhibits
The ground floor has about 500 square meters of space. It focuses on the history of Shetland up until the 1800s. You can learn about the environment, geology, and geography of the islands. It also covers the first people who lived there, early farming, fishing, old boats, and the rich folklore of Shetland.
First Floor Exhibits
The first floor has about 360 square meters of space. This floor tells the story of Shetland from the last 200 years up to today. You can see how culture, politics, population, and industries have changed. This includes the growth of the knitwear industry and Shetland's strong connection to the sea. You'll learn about fishing, whaling, wartime service, and merchant shipping.
What You Can See
The museum has all sorts of items. Some are very important historically. Others might not be old but are very meaningful to Shetland. You'll find items that tell a story on their own, and others that help create a bigger picture. The exhibits range from delicate lace shawls to entire boats! The Shetland Archives also holds records from the 1400s all the way to the 2000s. There's also a large library of local books and writings.
Hay's Dock: A Living Exhibit
The museum building sits right next to its biggest exhibit: Hay's Dock.
History of Hay's Dock
Hay's Dock was built in 1815 by a company called Hay & Ogilvy. It is a Category B listed site, which means it's an important historical structure.
Dock Restoration
As part of the museum project, the dock area was greatly improved. The pier house was restored, and the dock itself was made deeper. This allows the museum to keep its floating exhibits, like old boats, right there in the water.
Shetland Crofthouse Museum
The Shetland Crofthouse Museum is another interesting place to visit. It's located at Dunrossness. This museum is a traditional 19th-century thatched crofthouse. It shows what a typical old Shetland farm home looked like.
See also
In Spanish: Museo de Shetland para niños
