Island hop and discover the extraordinary history of Scilly  

Museum on the Move is a response to the closure of the Museum in June 2019 due to structural problems with its building on Church Street, St Mary’s.

There have been three stages to the project: moving our collections into safe storage at the Porthmellon Enterprise Centre and in six bespoke, environmentally controlled storage units; creating several pop-up exhibitions around the islands and working with the Isles of Scilly Council to fund and design a new Cultural Centre and Museum. Visit https://www.iosmuseumandculturalcentre.org for more information.

We are grateful to the host venues who have worked with us to create the pop-up exhibitions.

ST. MARY'S

Tourist Information Centre: SS Schiller Display
Steamship Offices: Steamship Models Display
Pilot Gig Restaurant : Pilot Gig Display
Star Castle: Civil War Information Panels
On the Quay: Scilly’s Lighthouse
St Mary’s Quay Waiting Room: Scillonian Funnel Old Town Inn: The Cita display

TRESCO

Tresco Gardens History Room: HMS Colossus Display

BRHYER

Fraggle Rock: Collection of Dioramas and SS Minnehaha Exhibition

ST. AGNES

St. Agnes Island Hall: Shipwreck Exhibition

ST. MARTIN'S

Church Town Farm: Roman Brooch

Seven Stones Inn: SS Longships Collection

St. Martin’s Island Hall Library: Torrey Canyon Display

Discovery Maps which detail the pop-up exhibitions are available from either the pop-up venues or from the Tourist Information Centre on Porthcressa.

During 2024, as part of the National Lottery Heritage Funded activities plan  the Museum team will be working with Off-Island communities to co-curate new and improved exhibition offers on each island.

Museum on the Move is funded by European Regional Development fund and Coastal Communities.

"The shipwreck room at the Visitor Centre on St. Mary's is a real highlight. The HMS Association fleet disaster display provides a fascinating focal point. The bronze naval stern gun from the wreck is exceptional and kindly on loan to the museum from the Leach Foundation. The myths and legends surrounding this disaster are as interesting as the incident itself" - Kate Hale, Museum Curator