Galleries

Let us take you on a journey spanning 250 million years, and explore Dorset’s natural world, archaeology, history, art, and culture along the way.

Fascinating objects, films, audio, and touchscreens tell Dorset’s stories in exciting new ways, across four galleries of internationally and nationally important collections.

With lots of interactive and touch objects, a peaceful Story Space, stunning films, and listen-in points, there is plenty here to keep everyone happy.

Natural Dorset

Ground Floor
Natural-Dorset

What's Inside

See 250 million years of natural history come alive as Natural Dorset reveals the secrets of the county’s geology, landscapes, habitats and wildlife.

Hardy's Dorset

First Floor
Dorset-Museum-Hardys-Dorset-002

What's Inside

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.

People's Dorset

First Floor
Peoples-Dorset

What's Inside

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.

Artists' Dorset

Second Floor
Dorset-Museum-Artists-Dorset-008

What's Inside

Enjoy a beautiful gallery full of the Museum’s superb collections of paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, textiles, fine and decorative art.

The Victorian Hall

Ground Floor
Victorian Hall

What To See

Marvel at the historic Victorian Hall, Staircase and the modern Acheson’s Atrium, and the Roman mosaics that adorn the walls and floors of these spaces.

Collections Discovery Centre

Lower Ground Floor
dorset-museum-entomology-collection

What's Inside

This is where we look after our collection of four million objects. Look through a glass wall onto our main collection store, and watch important conservation and curatorial work in our Conservation Studio.