New blog post: West Mainland youth dive into ocean conservation with Stromness Museum. This dynamic new project exploring the intersection of oceans, wellbeing, and youth engagement was made possible through support from the Orkney Youth Local Action Group. stromnessmuseum.org.uk/blog/west-ma...

There's still tickets available for Dr Tim Noble's free talk, 'Orkney's Offshore Dilemmas' this Thur 25 Sept at 7pm, as part of our Powered by People exhibition. ℹ️&🎟️: www.stromnessmuseum.org.uk/whatson/2025... Part of hiclimatefest.co.uk #HiLocal #hiclimatefest #LetsDoNetZero #ScotClimateWeek

History curious? You don't need to be in London (or the UK) to attend many Institute of Historical Research seminars, although if you're in Bloomsbury you'll enjoy doing so. Most are hybrid (online/in person). They're free, usually fortnightly and open to the public. Starting this week:

October's story sharing event in the TRANSECTS project focuses on whales and whaling in #Orkney. #archaeology #history

Snorkelling to the #ShooglyHolm underwater sea-life hotel! 🤿 ℹ️: tinyurl.com/3kzbrpjp 📷 by Karen Boswarva & Katy Firth (@creativescots.bsky.social, @jpopstudios.bsky.social & @artecology-iw.bsky.social )

‘It is the only certainly British specimen that still exists, and before it died it was part of the last pair in the country.’ A detailed thread on the demise of the Great Auk.

The #ShooglyHolm sealife hotel is open! Thanks to all who helped build the mooring's ceramic village, and those who toasted its launch today with @jpopstudios.bsky.social, a wee dram and some homely Orkney poetry. ℹ️: tinyurl.com/3kzbrpjp (@creativescots.bsky.social & @artecology-iw.bsky.social )

The #ShooglyHolm mooring is ready, and Poppy the dog is very excited! Join us tomorrow, Sat 20 Sep at 9-10am to toast its launch with a wee dram, some Orcadian poetry and a few words by artist @jpopstudios.bsky.social. (@artecology-iw.bsky.social @creativescots.bsky.social)

Today @jpopstudios.bsky.social is working on the #ShooglyHolm mooring, inc. attaching community-made ceramics. Pop by to say hello before 3pm! Project partners: oisf.org, blidetrust.org.uk, aquatera.co.uk, emec.org.uk, @creativescots.bsky.social, @artecology-iw.bsky.social, kerrianneflett.com

For hiclimatefest.co.uk & our Powered by People exhibition, we've made a fun Stromness Energy Safari with tern360.com. Walk the trail, crack the code & earn a certificate! Get your guides from us (1st 50 copies free, extra copies £3 each). 🔍⚡ #HiLocal #hiclimatefest #LetsDoNetZero #ScotClimateWeek

Save the date! Scottish Museums Day is back on 3 October 2025! 🎉 We’ll be celebrating the incredible collections in Scotland’s museums, galleries, libraries, archives, & heritage sites. This year’s theme drops soon. Stay tuned! 👀 #ScottishMuseumsDay

Join us this Fri 10am-3pm at the Museum, to see @jpopstudios.bsky.social completing the #ShooglyHolm mooring construction, inc. attaching community-made ceramics. Project partners: oisf.org, blidetrust.org.uk, aquatera.co.uk, emec.org.uk, @creativescots.bsky.social & @artecology-iw.bsky.social.

Tonight Kirsteen Stewart is talking @pierartscentre.bsky.social about her creative collaborations, inc. our Steps to Sustainability project. Kirsteen worked with us to produce new lines of textile products inspired by our natural history collection. orkneyartssociety.wordpress.com/2025/08/29/k...

You're all invited to see the #ShooglyHolm mooring and sea-life habitat installation in Stromness with artist @jpopstudios.bsky.social next week. 🌊 tinyurl.com/3kzbrpjp (Project partners are oisf.org, blidetrust.org.uk, aquatera.co.uk, @creativescots.bsky.social & @artecology-iw.bsky.social)

As part of hiclimatefest.co.uk, Dr Tim Noble of @heriotwattuni.bsky.social is giving a free 'Orkney's Offshore Dilemmas' talk, in association with our Powered by People exhibition about Orkney's renewable energy. ℹ️/🎟️: tinyurl.com/364xhwt9 #HIlocal #HIclimatefest #LetsDoNetZero #ScotClimateWeek

Buddo is very excited about Orkney’s first ever Festival of Archaeology from @orkneyarchaeology.bsky.social, with events on today until this Sunday 14 September 2025! See: orkneyarchaeologysociety.org.uk/events/ #Buddo

See the film premiere of 'As old as the hills’ at oisf.org tomorrow. A stunning journey through deep time with Geologist Adrian Hall, Mara Gibb (Caithness) and our Museum Climate Change Exhibitions and Outreach Officer Katy Firth. Tue 9 Sep, 10am: oisf.org/fest-event/a... youtu.be/jjr7gXy2tHU?...

Come to Stromness Museum to learn all about Orkney's pioneering role in the developing renewable energy story and the human stories behind it. We're open 7 days a week from 10am until 5pm, inc. Sundays. www.stromnessmuseum.org.uk/whatson/2025...

Island Sheep and Island Futures are a key feature of this year's Orkney International Science Festival (oisf.org). If you’ve not yet seen any North Ronaldsay sheep, you can find a ram, ewe and lamb in our Natural History collection at Stromness Museum.

We recently co-hosted an event with OREF.co.uk, a viewing of ‘Powered by People’ and talk by Mark Williamson of subseamicropiles.com on their work on Hoy and the opportunity the tech. offers for simplified marine moorings. A recording is now available to view here: www.oref.co.uk/.../oref-ope...

We hope those competing in the Stromness Sailing Club Regatta races today have better luck than the crews of these two boats did in 1963. 📷: Two boats collide near the pier during the Holm Regatta, 1963. See Orcadian 8/8/1963, page 7. Hourston Photographic Collection, © Stromness Museum.

'As old as the hills’, a new film premiering as part of oisf.org, features some lovely images of Geologist Ted Kellock’s microscopic rockslides under cross-polarized light, their Shapinsay collection site & the Stromness landscape. It will be a feast for the eyes and mind! oisf.org/fest-event/a...

We've been given a donation by Thistle Wind Partners towards a new interpretation panel for our large Leathery Turtle, usually found in tropical & subtropical oceans. This one was caught in a fishing net in Westray in 1996. The cast on display was made by James Jackson & team at Liverpool Museum.

Young visitors have used our collections for #grimwoodmuseumadventure2025 inspiration. Do the trail & competition with us by this Wed 27 Aug! (From @kidsinmuseums.bsky.social and Simon & Schuster. One UK design will win a Double National Art Pass + Kids from @artfund.bsky.social). #Buddo

Are you going out on the town tonight? 90 years ago, Mr D. McLeod enjoyed an evening of dining and dancing with The Directors of Metal Industries Ltd. at the Recreation Hall in Lyness, to celebrate their raising of the WWI German ship SMS Konig Albert in 1935. 📷: tinyurl.com/32wuspus

Thornley Binders est. 1925 in Stromness, made smokeless fuel briquettes from kelp. It shut 2yrs on, but the parish football Thornley Binders Cup & dedicated Nrth Pier extension (now used by Northlink) remain. Just one of the many renewable energy stories in Powered by People: tinyurl.com/47cyuysn

Chris Reilly’s PhD research with @heriotwattuni.bsky.social explores how Orcadians experience coastal change & how communities are represented in related decisions. Take the survey to reflect local perspectives. All participants have the chance to win a £100 BID voucher! bit.ly/coastalchangesurvey

AIM @aimuseums.bsky.social case study on our recent seaweed specimens conservation work, funded by AIM Pilgrim Trust Remedial Conservation Grants. Conservator @hanabristow.bsky.social rehoused & preserved our collection of pressed seaweed specimens dated 1839-1962. aim-museums.co.uk/case-studies...

'As old as the hills’ is a new film by Selena S. Kuzman, feat. the Stromness landscape & Geologist Ted Kellock’s slide collection at Stromness Museum. Presented by Geologist Adrian Hall, Mara Gibb, and our Museum Climate Change Exhibitions and Outreach Officer Katy Firth. oisf.org/fest-event/a...

It’s lovely to see our Natural History collection objects with contemporary artworks in the Buss o Gress/Tuft of Grass exhibition @pierartscentre.bsky.social. There’s a Sedge Warbler Nest from Naturalist George Ellison and Herbarium sheets front Botanist Magnus Spence amongst the art and poetry.

We're seeking new voluntary Trustees interested in Stromness history, Orkney’s Natural History and Maritime past. The roles will be key to guiding our future. We're keen to hear from those with a financial background. Please email a CV and reasons for applying: [email protected]

What do you think farming will look like in 2125? We're working with @uniofreading.bsky.social researchers to collect your thoughts and ideas about future farming and curate a time capsule - which will be opened in 100 years' time! Find out more: www.reading.ac.uk/news/2025/Un...

Announced on the news today is the Marine Protected Area (MPA) designation for WWI German High Seas fleet remains in Scapa Flow, making it a crime to remove items. But you can see many salvaged items in our Museum and learn the scuttling and salvage story on our website: tinyurl.com/mtkdw7b5

Our current Powered by People exhibition, about Orkney’s pioneering role in renewable energy and the human stories behind it, features in the festival programme for the Orkney International Science Festival 2025. It's available on their website at oisf.org: oisf.org/portfolio-it...

The #ShooglyHolm floating sculpture project with artist @jpopstudios.bsky.social features as a 'Peedie Tale' in this week's The Orcadian newspaper. Read all about it! 🗞️ Project partners are oisf.org, BlideTrust.org.uk, Aquatera.co.uk, @creativescots.bsky.social & @artecology-iw.bsky.social

This new exhibition includes some herbarium samples and a bird's nest on loan from our collection, which look amazing in the different space. Look out for them if you go to see the show! 🌿

Please help our friends at The John Rae Society by taking five minutes to complete their online survey: www.surveymonkey.com/r/DZN2368

Thanks to this evening’s attendees of our Powered by People exhibition & Mark Williamson’s talk about Subsea Micropiles work on Hoy, hosted by Oref.co.uk. Orkney’s renewable energy story is ongoing, with much progress thanks to the Orcadian can-do attitude! scottishbusinessnews.net/subsea-micro...

This Tue 5 Aug we're hosting an event with OREF.co.uk. A 7pm private view of our Powered by People exhibition and an 8pm talk by Mark Williamson of Subsea Micropiles about their work on Hoy. Free to OREF & Museum members, £5 for non-members. Details & booking info: www.oref.co.uk/.../oref-ope...

Have you spotted any rare Cranes in Orney? www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottis...

Critters are causing chaos here for the #grimwoodmuseumadventure2025! Spot them for a sticker. Design a poster for Grimwood's new Mayor for the chance to win a book bundle & @artfund.bsky.social Double National Art Pass + Kids. Trail by @kidsinmuseums.bsky.social & @simonandschuster.bsky.social.

A holidaymaker has found a jellyfish that was thought to be extint in South Uist: www.theguardian.com/environment/... If you'd like to explore Orkney's rockpools, you can get catching nets, buckets, Usborne minis spotter guides and Grow Bitz camera phone magnification lenses in our shop. 🐚🔍🦀📷

Join Stromness Museum from this Sat 2 Aug for the #grimwoodmuseumadventure2025! Spot the Grimwood characters, elect a mayor & draft a campaign poster for the chance to win an @artfund.bsky.social Double National Art Pass + Kids. Trail by @kidsinmuseums.bsky.social & @simonandschuster.bsky.social.

An article about snorkelling in Scotland in The Guardian. 🤿 Discover the Orkney Snorkel Trail we developed with the Scottish Wildlife Trust as one of the many ‘out and about’ family activities on our Nature Portal at: www.stromnessmuseum.org.uk/nature-portal www.theguardian.com/environment/...

A chance 1970's meeting of Orkney’s Capt. ‘Big John’ Hourie & USA oil tycoon Dr Armand Hammer brought oil to Flotta. Learn the origins of Flotta’s Oil Terminal and how it changed the island forever at our current Powered By People exhibition: tinyurl.com/47cyuysn 🎨: by Sylvia Foxlee, 1971.

We have a forthcoming joint event with oref.co.uk on Tue 5 Aug 2025 at 7pm: “Powered by People” private exhibition viewing followed by talk on Subsea Micropiles Scapa Flow Project 2025. Further details are here: www.oref.co.uk/events/oref-...

Although the excavation trenches at the Ness of Brodgar have now been covered, the discoveries continue – and you can still see it for yourself. Today's the Ness of Brodgar Open Day at the Stenness Community Association Hall, event until 4pm. (@nessofbrodgar.bsky.social @uhiarchaeology.bsky.social)

We hope you all enjoy tonight’s Stromness Shopping Week parade and fireworks. If you're looking for something to do once all the festivities are over, remember that we're currently open at 10am-5pm for 7 days a week, inc. Sundays! 📷: Shopping Week parade entrants, date unknown © Stromness Museum

There are still some places left for the last Seagrass Snorkelling session with Restoration Forth tomorrow, Sun 27 July 2025 at 4.30pm in Finstown. 🤿 #restorationforth #projectseagrass www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/seagrass-s...

We're busy with our drop-in morning. @jpopstudios.bsky.social is chatting about the #ShooglyHolm floating sculpture project & making underwater bug hotels with folk. Our Climate Change Exhibitions & Outreach Officer Katy Firth is talking about seaside wildlife.