Scottish Maritime Museum

History & Heritage
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Home to Scotland’s national maritime collection, the award winning Scottish Maritime Museum is a great day out, with lots to do
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About Scottish Maritime Museum
Explore Scotland’s ‘Cathedral of Engineering’ – the vast, former Linthouse shipyard building
Test a model foam boat on our indoor boating pond or sail your own on our outdoor boating pond.
Discover historic vessels such as MV Spartan, Scotland’s last Scottish-built puffer, the harbour tug Garnock, and SY Carola, a steam yacht built in 1898.
Learn about Scotland’s importance to maritime history, and about the people that built and sailed Scottish ships around the worldBased in the West of Scotland, with sites in Irvine and Dumbarton, the Scottish Maritime Museum holds an important nationally recognised collection, encompassing a variety of historic vessels, artefacts, fascinating personal items and the largest collection of shipbuilding tools and machinery in the country. The buildings and sites which the Scottish Maritime Museum occupies are themselves part of the heritage collection.
The Scottish Maritime Museum in Irvine is housed within the vast, glass-roofed Victorian Linthouse. This A listed ‘cathedral of engineering’ was formerly the Engine Shop of Alexander Stephen and Sons shipyard in Govan before being salvaged and relocated to Irvine in 1991.
The Linthouse, originally built in 1872 to the design of John Frederick Spencer, a naval architect who had worked with Brunel. It was extended and altered more than once during the following 100 years of its working life and finally, when threatened with demolition for industrial redevelopment, it was dismantled and rebuilt in its current Irvine site in the latter part of the 1980s.
Within the Linthouse you will find historic boats and other artefacts along with art and sculpture related to Scottish maritime history. The Museum, founded on the historic and continuing importance of the sea to Scotland, opens up the past to everyone.
Opening Hours
Mon - 10:00-17:00
Tue - 10:00-17:00
Wed - 10:00-17:00
Thu - 10:00-17:00
Fri - 10:00-17:00
Sat - 10:00-17:00
Sun - 10:00-17:00
Key Features
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Wifi
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Parking
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Accessible Parking
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features
Children
Baby Changing Facilities
Indoor Play Area
Cuisine types
British
Scottish
Vegetarian/Vegan
Catering
Cafe
Picnic Area
Shop
Payment Methods
Cash
Cheque
Credit Card
Debit Card
Transport and Parking
Coach Parking
Electric Car charging
On Public Transport Route
Parking
Public Parking Nearby
Taxi rank nearby
Location
Coastal Location
Sea/Loch View
Town Location
Dietary Options
Dairy Free
Gluten Free
Vegan Meals Available
Vegetarian Meals available
General Facilities
Gift Shop
Public Toilet Facilities
Pets
No Pets Allowed
Internet
WiFi
Accessibility
Accessible parking or drop-off point
Accessible toilets
Level access from entrance to reception
Level access to main entrance
Suitable for visitors with limited mobility
Wheelchair access throughout