Whitby Museum

Whitby Museum is one of Yorkshire’s great curiosity cabinets – a fascinating, unusual and wonderfully characterful museum telling the story of Whitby from the Jurassic era to the present day.

Set in Pannett Park, the museum explores the history, people, landscape and seafaring spirit of this remarkable coastal town. Its collections range from fossils and natural history specimens to model ships, costume, photography, fine art, toys, dolls, clocks, medals, Whitby Jet and maritime artefacts.

The result is a treasure trove for visitors of all ages. Whether someone is interested in dinosaurs, local history, jewellery, shipbuilding, Victorian photography, textiles or strange and surprising objects, Whitby Museum offers plenty to discover.

What’s On

Whitby Museum has a dedicated special exhibition room, with a changing programme designed to complement and enhance the main gallery. Special exhibitions usually run for a full year, giving visitors the chance to explore different themes linked to Whitby’s history and the museum’s wider collections.

The Costume Gallery also stages annually changing exhibitions, highlighting different areas of the museum’s costume and textile collection.

Throughout the year, Whitby Museum hosts events and talks connected to its collections, bringing extra depth and context to the objects on display. Visitors are encouraged to check the museum’s official website and social media channels for the latest exhibition, event and talk updates.

Collections

Whitby Museum’s collections have been assembled over more than 200 years and cover a broad sweep of local, natural and cultural history.

Local History

Whitby’s story is reflected from as early as the Middle Stone Age, with objects and displays exploring the town’s development, people and place in Yorkshire history.

Photography

The museum holds an extensive photographic collection, including around 17,000 glass-plate and film negatives dating back to the 1860s.

Maritime Heritage

Whitby’s identity has always been tied to the sea, and the museum explores the town’s maritime past through ships, sailors, models and coastal history.

Social History

The social history collection includes bygones, toys and dolls, coins, clocks and watches, medals and other objects connected with everyday life in Whitby.

Fine Art

The museum’s art collection is made up mainly of 19th and early 20th-century works, including oil paintings and watercolours by local and regional artists.

Natural History

Whitby Museum’s natural history collection includes preserved and mounted animals, birds and insects, offering a glimpse into the wildlife and scientific interests of earlier generations.

Geology and Fossils

The museum is particularly well known for its geology and fossil displays, with one of the finest collections of Jurassic fossils in Britain.

Whitby Jet and Jet Jewellery

Whitby Jet is a world-class gemstone, and the museum explores its local importance, craftsmanship and place in the town’s identity.

Costume and Textiles

The costume collection has roots going back to 1823 and reflects Whitby’s history, self-sufficiency, creativity and changing social life.

Visit Whitby Museum

Whitby Museum is located in Pannett Park, close to the centre of Whitby.

For the latest opening times and admission prices, visit: whitbymuseum.org.uk/visit/