Shetland Museum & Archives | Home
Source: https://www.shetlandmuseumandarchives.org.uk
Archived: 2026-04-23 15:30
Shetland Museum & Archives | Home
New Exhibition Open - Outwith: Valda, MacDiarmid and Whalsay
Sat 28th March - Sat 20th June 2026
Da Gadderie
The story of Hugh MacDiarmid and his wife, Valda, continues to inspire nearly a century on. This landmark exhibition focuses on the nine years (1933 - 1942) poet Hugh MacDiarmid and his wife Valda spent in the Shetland island of Whalsay, exploring how the island influenced their lives and work.
FInd out more...
Opening Highlights: Outwith Exhibition in Pictures
Outwith: Valda, MacDiarmid and Whalsay is now open at Shetland Museum and Archives, running until 20 June 2026.
A big thank you to everyone who came along to Friday night’s preview - Alexa Fitzgibbon captured the atmosphere so beautifully, and we hope you enjoy her photographs.
We can’t wait to welcome you to this special exhibition.
View gallery
Baptist Rest Hut - new photos in the Archives
The Shetland Archives recently acquired two volumes of photographs from the period 1934-1936. The photographs feature the work of the Baptist Rest Hut in Lerwick. The hut was on the site of the building now called Pearl Cottage in Commercial Road. The hut was established by the Baptist Union of Scotland to attend to women fish workers.
Read more
Welcome to Shetland Museum and Archives
Our Five Star, award winning Museum and Archives is a multifunctional visitor attraction in the heart of Shetland's capital town of Lerwick. Begin your journey through the history of our beautiful islands here, with an enjoyable and interactive visitor experience discovering our world renowned collections. The Museum and Archives is managed by the
Shetland Amenity Trust
, a small charity caring for Shetland's natural and cultural heritage.
Visit Us
Shetland Museum & Archives is open. Drop in and visit us, no booking is necessary.
Collections
Visitors and researchers can explore the fascinating story of Shetland’s heritage and culture in one place, with access to a wealth of documents and artefacts covering all aspects of the islands' past at Shetland Museum and Archives.
Education & Research
Shetland Museum and Archives offers a comprehensive education programme, with access to workshops focussing on different areas of our collections, and outreach sessions in the community.
Online Resources
Access document and photo archives online, or download a choice of teaching resources, or visitor activity sheets.
Community Heritage
Shetland’s heritage is researched, collected and exhibited throughout the islands by a network of local museums and heritage centres. Each museum and heritage centre in Shetland is unique, highlighting the various and changing aspects of natural and cultural heritage in each area.
Venue & Event Hire
Shetland Museum and Archives offers first class venue facilities for hire in a stunning dockside location. From conferences and meetings, to weddings or birthday parties, our versatile spaces are suitable for any event.
Visit Us
Shetland Museum & Archives is open
Find Out More
Photo Archive
Scotland's most extensive photo archive
Find Out More
Gift Shop
Unique gifts and souvenirs with a heritage theme
Find Out More
Collections
Explore the Archives and Museum Artefacts
Find Out More
Crofthouse Museum
Step back in time as you enter the traditional 19th century thatched crofthouse.
Find Out More
Events
Events and activities during your visit
Find Out More
Events
Events and activities during your visit
Shetland Museum and Archives are proud to offer a range of events for adults, children and famlies, covering a variety of themes throughout the year.
Our own events are detailed below, or see the 'What's On' Calendar for all public events and exhibition listings for the building.
View
Shetland Museum Socials - drop-in
15/04/2026 - 09/12/2026
Learning Room, Shetland Museum & Archives
Come along to our informal Shetland Museum Socials running fortnightly on ...
View
Museum Highlights Tour
15/04/2026 - 30/04/2026
Shetland Museum & Archives
Make the most of your visit with us and join us on a tour to ensure you see the ...
View
Night by Da Fire at the Shetland Crofthouse Museum
05/05/2026
7:30pm - 9:00pm
Shetland Crofthouse Museum, Dunrossness
Step back in time as you enter a traditional 19th century thatched crofthouse ...
View
FIND ENCLOSED: Creative Bookbinding Workshop (Adults)
12/05/2026
4:00pm - 6:00pm
Shetland Museum & Archives
Inspired by ‘Outwith: Valda, MacDiarmid and Whalsay’ this workshop will ...
Exhibitions
Displays, Exhibitions and Gadderie Shows
There are a number of exhibition spaces and feature display areas throughout the Museum and Archives building. The artefacts and works on display change regularly and details of our current shows are listed here.
Current
View
Outwith: Valda, MacDiarmid and Whalsay
28/03/2026 - 20/06/2026
Da Gadderie, Shetland Museum and Archives
Shetland Museum and Archives will launch an exhibition for spring 2026, ...
View
Bobby Simpson
25/01/2026 - 10/05/2026
Hays Dock Upper Foyer
This focused exhibition celebrates the craftsmanship of Bobby Simpson, a gifted ...
Latest Blog Posts
Keep up to date with new stories and details of what our researchers are doing to preserve and promote Shetland's heritage and culture.
Archives
Baptist Rest Hut - new photos in the Archives
April 8th 2026
The Shetland Archives recently acquired two volumes of photographs from the period 1934-1936. The photographs feature the work of the ...
Read more
Community
Museum and Archives News
The White Wife has found a new home
April 2nd 2026
102 years since she came ashore in Yell, the White Wife has been restored and installed at the Old Haa Museum in Burravoe.
Read more
Support Us
Shetland Museum and Archives is managed by Shetland Amenity Trust, a charitable organisation dedicated to safeguarding, enhancing, and promoting Shetland's heritage. Our mission is to ensure that Shetland’s history and culture remain accessible for everyone to enjoy - now and for generations to come.
Your generosity plays a vital role in making this possible. Donations directly support the care, preservation, and display of our collections, artefacts, and archives and help us to continue to share Shetland’s story with our community and visitors.
Every gift makes a difference. Thank you.
Find Out More
Join our mailing list
Sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest news, events, exhibitions and behind-the-scenes stories from Shetland Amenity Trust.
Sign up
New Exhibition Open - Outwith: Valda, MacDiarmid and Whalsay
Sat 28th March - Sat 20th June 2026
Da Gadderie
The story of Hugh MacDiarmid and his wife, Valda, continues to inspire nearly a century on. This landmark exhibition focuses on the nine years (1933 - 1942) poet Hugh MacDiarmid and his wife Valda spent in the Shetland island of Whalsay, exploring how the island influenced their lives and work.
FInd out more...
Opening Highlights: Outwith Exhibition in Pictures
Outwith: Valda, MacDiarmid and Whalsay is now open at Shetland Museum and Archives, running until 20 June 2026.
A big thank you to everyone who came along to Friday night’s preview - Alexa Fitzgibbon captured the atmosphere so beautifully, and we hope you enjoy her photographs.
We can’t wait to welcome you to this special exhibition.
View gallery
Baptist Rest Hut - new photos in the Archives
The Shetland Archives recently acquired two volumes of photographs from the period 1934-1936. The photographs feature the work of the Baptist Rest Hut in Lerwick. The hut was on the site of the building now called Pearl Cottage in Commercial Road. The hut was established by the Baptist Union of Scotland to attend to women fish workers.
Read more
Welcome to Shetland Museum and Archives
Our Five Star, award winning Museum and Archives is a multifunctional visitor attraction in the heart of Shetland's capital town of Lerwick. Begin your journey through the history of our beautiful islands here, with an enjoyable and interactive visitor experience discovering our world renowned collections. The Museum and Archives is managed by the
Shetland Amenity Trust
, a small charity caring for Shetland's natural and cultural heritage.
Visit Us
Shetland Museum & Archives is open. Drop in and visit us, no booking is necessary.
Collections
Visitors and researchers can explore the fascinating story of Shetland’s heritage and culture in one place, with access to a wealth of documents and artefacts covering all aspects of the islands' past at Shetland Museum and Archives.
Education & Research
Shetland Museum and Archives offers a comprehensive education programme, with access to workshops focussing on different areas of our collections, and outreach sessions in the community.
Online Resources
Access document and photo archives online, or download a choice of teaching resources, or visitor activity sheets.
Community Heritage
Shetland’s heritage is researched, collected and exhibited throughout the islands by a network of local museums and heritage centres. Each museum and heritage centre in Shetland is unique, highlighting the various and changing aspects of natural and cultural heritage in each area.
Venue & Event Hire
Shetland Museum and Archives offers first class venue facilities for hire in a stunning dockside location. From conferences and meetings, to weddings or birthday parties, our versatile spaces are suitable for any event.
Visit Us
Shetland Museum & Archives is open
Find Out More
Photo Archive
Scotland's most extensive photo archive
Find Out More
Gift Shop
Unique gifts and souvenirs with a heritage theme
Find Out More
Collections
Explore the Archives and Museum Artefacts
Find Out More
Crofthouse Museum
Step back in time as you enter the traditional 19th century thatched crofthouse.
Find Out More
Events
Events and activities during your visit
Find Out More
Events
Events and activities during your visit
Shetland Museum and Archives are proud to offer a range of events for adults, children and famlies, covering a variety of themes throughout the year.
Our own events are detailed below, or see the 'What's On' Calendar for all public events and exhibition listings for the building.
View
Shetland Museum Socials - drop-in
15/04/2026 - 09/12/2026
Learning Room, Shetland Museum & Archives
Come along to our informal Shetland Museum Socials running fortnightly on ...
View
Museum Highlights Tour
15/04/2026 - 30/04/2026
Shetland Museum & Archives
Make the most of your visit with us and join us on a tour to ensure you see the ...
View
Night by Da Fire at the Shetland Crofthouse Museum
05/05/2026
7:30pm - 9:00pm
Shetland Crofthouse Museum, Dunrossness
Step back in time as you enter a traditional 19th century thatched crofthouse ...
View
FIND ENCLOSED: Creative Bookbinding Workshop (Adults)
12/05/2026
4:00pm - 6:00pm
Shetland Museum & Archives
Inspired by ‘Outwith: Valda, MacDiarmid and Whalsay’ this workshop will ...
Exhibitions
Displays, Exhibitions and Gadderie Shows
There are a number of exhibition spaces and feature display areas throughout the Museum and Archives building. The artefacts and works on display change regularly and details of our current shows are listed here.
Current
View
Outwith: Valda, MacDiarmid and Whalsay
28/03/2026 - 20/06/2026
Da Gadderie, Shetland Museum and Archives
Shetland Museum and Archives will launch an exhibition for spring 2026, ...
View
Bobby Simpson
25/01/2026 - 10/05/2026
Hays Dock Upper Foyer
This focused exhibition celebrates the craftsmanship of Bobby Simpson, a gifted ...
Latest Blog Posts
Keep up to date with new stories and details of what our researchers are doing to preserve and promote Shetland's heritage and culture.
Archives
Baptist Rest Hut - new photos in the Archives
April 8th 2026
The Shetland Archives recently acquired two volumes of photographs from the period 1934-1936. The photographs feature the work of the ...
Read more
Community
Museum and Archives News
The White Wife has found a new home
April 2nd 2026
102 years since she came ashore in Yell, the White Wife has been restored and installed at the Old Haa Museum in Burravoe.
Read more
Support Us
Shetland Museum and Archives is managed by Shetland Amenity Trust, a charitable organisation dedicated to safeguarding, enhancing, and promoting Shetland's heritage. Our mission is to ensure that Shetland’s history and culture remain accessible for everyone to enjoy - now and for generations to come.
Your generosity plays a vital role in making this possible. Donations directly support the care, preservation, and display of our collections, artefacts, and archives and help us to continue to share Shetland’s story with our community and visitors.
Every gift makes a difference. Thank you.
Find Out More
Join our mailing list
Sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest news, events, exhibitions and behind-the-scenes stories from Shetland Amenity Trust.
Sign up