Exhibitions

Gu'un the Fish n' That is a sound installation by East Anglian based artist Beverley Carruthers, celebrating the lives and legacy of the herring girls.

The Cost of Progress is a free exhibition by emerging local artist Casey McCracken, exploring consumerism and environmental change in North Ayrshire.

Is There a Doctor on Board? tells the remarkable story of medicine at sea. Discover how seafarers battled scurvy, fever and injury, and how life on the ocean helped shape the medicine we know today.

Exhibition exploring daily collections of beachcombed marine objects shared on social media between March-July 2020.

Scottish Maritime Impressions – an exhibition celebrating the cultural links between Poland and Scotland, told from the perspective of Polish photographer Mariusz Bartosik

This exhibition will explore Scotland's maritime heritage through two contrasting perspectives: the safety of harbours versus the dangers of the open sea. It features 200 years of artwork showing ports as places of safety and community—from busy shipbuilding centres to quiet fishing villages—alongside William Sinclair's 1909 photographs revealing the harsh realities sailors faced at sea while earning a living for their families.

This touring exhibition celebrates the rich maritime heritage of North Ayrshire's Three Towns and their deep connections to the Merchant Navy.

Discover the amazing story of Scotland's most famous yacht-building family. For over 140 years, three generations of the Fife family ran a shipyard in Fairlie that became known around the world. They built beautiful boats that people called "Fast and Bonnie"

Life at sea was tough, lonely and unpredictable, but sailors rarely faced it alone. For centuries, animals of all shapes and sizes shared the deck, the hold, and sometimes even the captain's quarters with the crews who sailed the world's oceans.

The Scottish Maritime Museum is excited to announce our upcoming partnership with the Royal Scottish Academy for a major exhibition exploring how Scotland's seas and coastlines have inspired generations of artists.

The Scottish Maritime Museum proudly presents Fortitudo, an extraordinary exhibition by Italian artist Paola Folicaldi Suh showcasing Sir Ernest Shackleton's legendary Antarctic expedition aboard the Endurance (1914-1917).

Step aboard a journey through maritime history at our newest exhibition celebrating the extraordinary model vessels from the William Denny and Brothers Shipyard of Dumbarton (1844-1963)

Heritage Harbours Transformed by War shines a light on the lesser-known wartime experiences of our coastal communities, revealing how ordinary harbours became extraordinary lifelines during Britain's darkest hour.

Discover the untold story of Dumbarton's maritime innovation centre and the community that powered it. This exhibition explores the working lives and social bonds of the men and women behind the Denny Experiment Tank.

Explore the extraordinary world just beneath the ocean's surface in our upcoming exhibition "Beneath the Waves." Featuring recovered underwater artefacts and stunning photography.

Experience the spirit of Scotland's fishing communities through this powerful photographic exhibition by acclaimed photographer Ian Georgeson. Featuring twelve compelling portraits from Shetland to Berwickshire, "Pride in the Seas" captures the passion and commitment of those who dedicate their lives to sustainable fishing.

Explore the legacy of three legendary Scottish yacht design dynasties - Watson, Fife, and Mylne - who transformed the River Clyde into a hub of maritime innovation. Through rare artefacts and original designs from prestigious archives, discover how these master craftsmen revolutionised yacht building by combining scientific principles with traditional techniques. Their exquisite vessels, from America's Cup racers to luxury yachts for royalty, elevated Scottish yacht design to an art form that continues to influence modern maritime design.

The GAFFER Exhibition will be held from November 2, 2024, to February 2, 2025, featuring the multimedia celebration of the centenary of Kirsty, one of the last surviving Loch Fyne Skiffs. It will showcase historical and contemporary art, music, and maritime artifacts, highlighting Scotland’s maritime heritage and traditional boatbuilding.

Step into the fascinating world of maritime heavy lift transportation with Malin Abram's 125th anniversary exhibition at the Scottish Maritime Museum. From November 11th to 26th, 2024, discover the remarkable journey of one of Scotland's most enduring maritime companies.

A community artwork exhibition exploring adventure and the hunt for success on a journey from Glasgow to Odesa.

Open now, this exhibition, ‘Dream Destinations’, celebrates the rise of Scotland’s seaside resorts

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.

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.

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'.

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.

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.

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.