Stromness Museum is always a fascinating place to visit but for the whole of February there is the added bonus that entry is free.

There are many fascinating displays to look at, folders to browse through and interactive screens to click on.

Stromness was a very busy port throughout the 19th century and its streets abounded with shops, hostelries, and manufacturers of goods of all kinds.

For anyone interested in maritime industry the Stromness Museum is a must on your list of places to visit in Orkney.

Being a major port it was also a town well catered for with inns and sellers of alcohol – some of which was produced in Stromness.

All that is on the ground floor which is also currently exhibiting a display of Stromness’ more recent history – its international work in renewables.

Visitors can also find out more about local characters such as Eliza Fraser and Jack Renton. The valuable work of the rescue services protecting those at sea has several excellent displays.

The ground floor also contains the Stromness Museum’s outstanding exhibits of the German High Seas Fleet, and the tragedies of HMS Hampshire and HMS Vanguard.

Moving through the Museum you can discover more about Orkney’s links with the wider world through Dr John Rae, colonial expansion, whaling, and exploration.

Stromness Museum was established by Orkney’s Natural History Society and the upstairs gallery has an important collection of specimens : birds, butterflies, marine creatures, fossils etc. There are activities for younger visitors where they can explore for themselves the natural world.

There are fascinating objects donated to the museum such as this pipe reputed to have belonged to Scotland’s bard, Robert Burns.

It shares the display case with the waistcoat once worn by Robert Falcon Scott.

Stromness Museum is open open Monday to Saturday:11:00 – 15:30. Free admission during February.

At other times Admission is :

Adults	£7.50
Students	£5.00
Children under 16	Free
Assistance dogs only

Fiona Grahame

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