Hidden Treasures of Stromness Museum

One of the greatest places to visit in Stromness is the Stromness Museum. This independently-run museum is a showcase of whatever the Orkney Islands stand for. It has a wide range of permanent exhibits and is open to visitors year round. Read on to learn more about the Stromness Museum.

Stromness Museum, founded in 1837, is a beacon of Orkney's rich history. Its inception was fueled by a collective passion for preserving the heritage of the islands.

The museum has gone through periods of renovation and adaptation to changing museum practices. During the 1990s, it underwent further expansion by incorporating the Pilot’s House to the rear of the building. It also went through some refurbishment to accommodate new exhibits. Despite these changes, it still maintains its old Victorian charm.

The heart of the Stromness Museum lies in its diverse and captivating collections. Spanning centuries and encompassing various facets of Orkney life, the exhibits are a testament to the island's maritime prowess, archaeological significance, and natural beauty.

The archaeology collection at the Stromness Museum is a mesmerising journey through Orkney's ancient past. The collection contains objects from Skara Brae. After a series of excavations in Skara Brae, the museum received around 700 archaeological artefacts.

The main highlight of the collection is the Skara Brae Buddo. This figurine is made of whalebone – a rare representation of Neolithic humans – and dates back to the third millennium B.C. Among other Neolithic artefacts, one can name a stone ring, a stone hammer, bone beads, and a spinning whorl and arrowhead.

The ethnography exhibits showcase the craftsmanship, folklore, and daily lives of the island's inhabitants. Stromness has acted as a crossroads for ships and ferries for centuries. As the ships would stop for water and supplies, they had to exchange some of their goods with the locals. Thus, lots of these items stayed on the island and now enrich the Stromness Museum’s collections.

One of the highlights of the collection is an African’s Chief’s Throne, a decorative armchair with carved bone decorations. Another one is a Nephrite Jade blade, with its stone originating in New Zealand.

The maritime heritage section pays homage to Orkney's deep-seated connection to the sea. For long, the sea has acted as a lifeline for the inhabitants of the islands. It is also a vessel through which Stromness’s local history is connected to the larger global past.

In this collection, you may find different ship models, paintings, and lots of artefacts relating to the fishing industry and sailing. There are also objects specifically related to the two World Wars, which are a good reflection of the island’s strategic significance.