Welcome
Welcome to Dorset Museum, a place to connect with 250 million years of Dorset’s history.
We invite people from everywhere to discover and enjoy the richness of our county’s natural, historical and cultural heritage through our world-class collections.
We believe everybody will find something here to interest, fascinate or inspire them. We hope it will ignite you with an appreciation of our county and a desire to explore it.
About the Museum
Dorset Museum is cared for by the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, an educational charity and custodians of four million objects in the Museum’s collection.
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Opening hours:
Daily: 9.00am - 4.30pm
Sunday: 10.00am - 4.00pm
Bank Holidays: 10.00am - 4.00pm -
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Contact Us
Because our phone lines can be very busy, we strongly recommend contacting us using the links below to the relevant enquiry.
Membership Private Hire CollectionsWe’re Good To Go
We have gained the Visit England ‘We’re Good To Go’ kitemark confirming we’re following national COVID 19 guidelines for managing visits to our site.
Exhibitions
Elmer and Friends: The Colourful World of David McKee
13 October 2021 to 9 January 2022
For the first time ever, families from across the region will be able to step into David McKee’s colourful world in this characteristically playful Seven Stories exhibition as it celebrates over 30 years of Elmer the Patchwork Elephant.
A Museum in the Making
28 May – 24 November 2021
Dorchester artist Peter Runeckles was given unique access to the Museum construction site between 2018 and 2020. Working alongside the team from Acheson Construction, a series of watercolour paintings record the highs and lows of the building of the new Dorset Museum.
What's On
Online
Wildlife in the Red
Online Exhibition: Wildlife in the Red The Wessex Museums partnership is pitching in against biodiversity loss. ‘Wildlife in the Red’ is the title of their…
Find out more28 May – 24 November 2021
A Museum in the Making
Dorchester artist Peter Runeckles was given unique access to the Museum construction site between 2018 and 2020. Working alongside the team from Acheson Construction, a…
Find out more13 October 2021 - 9 January 2022
Elmer and Friends
The Colourful World of David McKee An exhibition from Seven Stories: The National Centre for Children’s Books. 13 October 2021 to 9 January 2022…
Find out more20 January 2022
Tom Sharpe – Mary Anning, the fossil woman
20 January 2022, 7 pm Join Tom Sharpe, formerly Curator of Palaeontology and Archives at the National Museum of Wales, and author of ‘The…
Find out more16 December 2021
Dr Clare Randall – ‘Anciently a manor’: the medieval manor at Lower Putton Lane, Chickerell
Excavations of the medieval manor at Lower Putton Lane, Chickerell 16 December 2021, 7 pm Join Dr Clare Randall to find out more about…
Find out moreDecember
Christmas Crafts
Sunday Craft Activity Feel the festive spirit and join in our winter and Christmas themed crafts in December. Sunday, 5 December 2021 Sunday, 12 December…
Find out moreOctober and November
Colourful Creatures
Sunday Craft Activity Create some colourful critters inspired by the Elmer and Friends exhibition to take home. Sunday, 3 October 2021 Sunday, 10 October 2021…
Find out more26 and 27 October 2021
Patterned Pals
26 and 27 October 2021, 10am to 11.30am | 12.30pm to 2pm | 2.30pm to 4pm. Artist-led event with Chesil Creatives Join artist Ellie Newbury,…
Find out more17 November 2021
Barbican Quartet
17 November 2021, 7.30 pm Acclaimed for their “gusto, comradeship and sharp attack” (The Times), the Barbican Quartet was formed at the Guildhall School…
Find out moreGalleries
Natural Dorset
See 250 million years of natural history come alive as Natural Dorset reveals the secrets of the county’s geology, landscapes, habitats and wildlife.
Peoples Dorset
Sweep through around 500,000 years of people’s history, from the Palaeolithic to the present day, on Dorset’s key themes of land, sea and community.
Hardy's Dorset
Discover the life and work of Dorset’s famous novelist and poet Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) and dive into key themes of his personal and professional life.
Artists' Dorset
Enjoy a beautiful gallery full of the Museum’s superb collections of paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, textiles, and fine and decorative art.
Highlights
Items From Our Collection
c.140 million years old (Purbeck Group)
The Swanage crocodile (Goniopholis kiplingi, holotype)
This skull is from a substantial crocodile that dwelled in Purbeck’s Early Cretaceous lagoons. There it waited, motionless, to ambush unsuspecting animals. Fish, turtles and even baby dinosaurs were potential dinners. Peveril Point, southeast Dorset
c.1890
Katharine Hardy’s red dress
Hardy’s younger sister Katharine (1856-1940) was a schoolteacher and had this dress made in Dorchester. With its luxurious red silk and bustle, it is reminiscent of the dress Tess wears in Tess of the d’Urbervilles when she runs away with her husband Angel Clare after murdering Alec d’Urberville.
c.1695
The Bond family raised-work box
Raised, or stump, work was a popular 17th-century embroidery technique. Its padded decoration often featured biblical motifs, plants and flowers, but the figures on this intricately crafted box are thought to depict Charles II (1630-1685) and his wife Catherine of Braganza (1638-1705). The box belonged to the Bond family at Creech Grange.
1850s
Bird skin collected by Alfred Russel Wallace
On Wallace’s trips to the Malaysian islands he collected over 8,000 bird specimens. Studying them helped him develop his theories on evolution
20th century
The Dorset Ooser
Every year Morris dancers use this replica Ooser for their May Day celebrations on a hillside near Cerne Abbas. The monstrous mask has its origins in ancient folklore. This terrifying creature stalked through Dorset towns and villages looking for food and drink from local people and frightening children.
On loan from John Byfleet
1873
Moule earth closet
Dorchester vicar Henry Moule (1801-1880) worked for better sanitation in the squalid slums of his Fordington parish. He invented this simple but effective composting toilet – a ‘portable commode for everyone’.
1950s
Cyril Day’s butterfly collection
These are just a small part of Cyril Douglas Day’s (1885-1968) collection of 2,652 insects, representing the wide diversity of species commonly found in Dorset in the mid-20th century.
c.900-1000 CE
The Wareham Sword
Made of silver, bronze and horn, this sword was found in the River Frome. The name engraved on it begins ‘Aethel…’, a name only associated with the aristocracy.
c.1935
October 13, 2021
Elmer and Friends march into Dorset Museum for Trium-phant Exhibition
Elmer and Friends: The Colourful World of David McKee, the first-ever major retrospective of David McKee’s striking illustration will be on display at Dorset Museum…
Read moreSeptember 13, 2021
Museum Director takes up new role!
Dr Jon Murden, Executive Director of Dorset Museum, will be leaving the Museum after 12 years to take on a new role as the chief…
Read moreJuly 6, 2021
Dorset Museum shortlisted for national Family Friendly Museum Award
It’s been announced that Dorset Museum has been shortlisted for a Kids in Museums Family Friendly Award, 2021. The charity ‘Kids in Museums’ has…
Read moreJune 10, 2021
Open evening for schools
It gives us great pleasure to invite school staff to our hugely transformed Dorset Museum on Thursday 15th July between 17.30 – 19.30 for FREE.
Read moreMay 28, 2021
Dorset Museum is OPEN!
The long-awaited opening of the Dorset Museum is here, after the £16.4 million redevelopment that started in October 2018. We are open!! Dr Jon Murden…
Read moreJanuary 28, 2021
Roman Mosaic Saved for the Nation!
A Roman mosaic of international importance has been saved for the Nation! Dorset Museum has been successful in its appeal to raise £150,000 to save…
Read moreOctober 12, 2020
Lifeline Grant
Dorset Museum is one of 1,385 cultural and creative organisations across the country receiving urgently needed support. £257 million of investment has been announced…
Read moreOctober 6, 2020
Wildlife in the Red
The Wessex Museums partnership is pitching in against biodiversity loss. ‘Wildlife in the Red’ is the title of their virtual exhibition. The strapline is ‘Once…
Read moreOctober 1, 2020
A Museum in the Making
This month we celebrated 175 years when the concept of building a museum to house all of the treasures of Dorset’s rich history was conceived…
Read moreMembership
Become A Member Today!
Become a member of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society today and get a deeper insight into 250 million years of Dorset’s history, while you help protect its rich heritage for future generations.
TASTE Café
Food and Drink
Visitors can enjoy and relax at the TASTE café at Dorset Museum without needing to pay for admission to the museum. We’ve also got free Wi-Fi available to our customers.
Shop
Gifts and Souvenirs
Remember your visit with a little something from our wonderful selection of pocket money goodies for all ages.
Venue Hire
The Victorian Hall
Are you looking for an iconic venue for your event? With its Gothic facade, spectacular Victorian Hall and stunning new galleries, Dorset Museum is a memorable choice.
Roman Town House
The Roman Town House in Dorchester is the only example of a fully exposed Roman Town House in the country. It is free to visit and tours are offered by Dorset Museum.
Support Us
Donations Make The Difference
Every grant and donation helps us to do more for more people. Find out how you could make a difference.