Heritage Open Day
Dorset Museum Open Day
10 September 2023, 10:00am - 4:00pm
FREE
Visitors can explore 250 million years of Dorset’s history for Free.
The Grade II listed building designed by George Crickmay, became the Museum’s home in 1883, and in the 20th century was expanded to fit the growing collections. The recent redevelopment has now upgraded our award-winning Museum with a dramatic extension, four galleries display fascinating fossils, Bronze Age and Roman archaeology, paintings and sculpture, and a wide variety of objects connected with Dorset people from the past including the largest and most important Thomas Hardy collection in the world.
Telling the Story of Badbury Rings
During the day there is also an opportunity to visit an interactive pop-up exhibition on one of Dorset’s finest Iron Age hillforts, Badbury Rings. The exhibition, created by Bournemouth University PhD student Beth Darlington, will encourage visitor participation in researching and testing different methods for telling the stories of prehistoric sites and landscapes. Visitors will be invited to test out the different methods which include handling of replica objects, digital scans and Virtual Reality (VR). This event is suitable for both families and adult visitors.
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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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Heritage Open Days
Each year, places across the country throw open their doors and give people the chance to see hidden places and try new experiences for free. This year’s theme is a tasty one: Edible England.
Find out moreWhat's on
21 July - 29 October 2023
Nature Heals | Photography by Trevor Parsons
Dorset Museum and Dorchester Arts co-present Nature Heals, an exhibition of nature photography by Trevor Parsons.
Find out more21 July - 29 October 2023
Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Wildlife Photographer of the Year, the world-famous exhibition from the Natural History Museum, is coming to Dorset Museum this summer.
Find out more6 October 2023, 10:00am -1:00pm,
Creative Journeys Through Time | 6 week art workshop with Helen Garrett
Designed for adults interested in art, prehistory and archaeology, and running as a six-week block, this course is an exciting opportunity to get up close with some extraordinary artefacts in the collection at Dorset Museum.
Find out more9 October 2023, 2:00pm to 4:30pm
Life Drawing at Dorset Museum – Eight-week course led by James Meiklejohn
This eight-week structured course is suitable for complete beginners to those with some experience.
Find out more10 October 2023, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Wildlife friendly gardening | Mitch Perkins
Would you like to make your garden more wildlife friendly? Join Mitch Perkins to find out how.
Find out more19 October 2023, 5:00pm - 6:30pm
FREE | Museum After Hours
Join us for an opportunity to explore the Museum at this FREE late opening.
Find out more19 October 2023, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Real Dorset | Jon Woolcott
In this lecture, let Jon Woolcott take you on an amusing whistle-stop tour through some of the discoveries and oddities that make Dorset unique.
Find out more25 October 2023, 2:00pm - 2:45pm
Collections Discovery Centre Tour
Join our Collections Team for an opportunity to explore behind the scenes in the Museum’s Collections Discovery Centre.
Find out more27 October 2023 5:00pm-9:00pm
Museums After Dark 2023
Discover three incredible Dorchester museums on one unforgettable night.
Find out more