
Exhibitions
1st July until 1st October 2023
Opening on the 1st July 2023 this exhibition, ‘Dream Destinations’, celebrates the rise of Scotland’s seaside resorts
17th September - 11th February 2024
The exhibition explores the harsh reality of this controversial industry that threatened the survival of many species. It showcases the Scottish contribution to industrial whaling and aims to educate the public about the importance of safeguarding marine life through various media.
14th October - 21st January 2024
Visual and audio work by Keith Salmon, Graham Byron and Drew Kirkland
Permanent display
Visit this exhibition built inside the hold of the last surviving Scottish-built puffer! Learn how these iconic boats evolved from small sailing coasters to steamships to diesel engine lifelines.
Permanent display
The Harbour Stories Screening Room showcases a collection of personal stories reflecting on life lived around the shipyards and marine industries of Irvine and Garnock Valley during the last century.
This exhibition has now closed
A spectacular collection of ship models which has been meticulously built over the last 60 years.
This exhibition has now closed
We're happy to announce a new temporary exhibition in collaboration with the Shipwrecked Mariners' Society for their 10th anniversary photography competition. Come and see these stunning photographs taken across the UK. This will be on display from 4 November 2022 until 5 February 2023.
This exhibition is now closed
Sea Monsters! will be an exploration of both the real and mythical creatures residing off the coasts of Scotland as well as those that are believed to lurk in oceans around the world.
Online Exhibition
As part of the Art That Made Us Festival launched by the BBC in April, the Scottish Maritime Museum has developed the online exhibition 'Scotland's Quarantine Island'.
Saturday 7th May 2022 - 31st December
The fantastic new exhibiiton comes to Dumbarton! It tells the amazing story of Skylark IX, which is believed to be one of only two ‘Dunkirk Little Ships’ from the World War 2 Operation Dynamo surviving in Scotland.
This exhibition has now closed
Glass Artist and Researcher, Dr Ayako Tani's latest exhibition, Glass Ships in Bottles, comes to the Scottish Maritime Museum, Dumbarton. It tells the fascinating story of the origins of the glass ships in bottles industry that stemmed from the decline of scientific glass blowing in the UK.