Introduction
The Museum of Island History is situated within the historic Guildhall on Newport High Street. The museum provides a fascinating exploration of Island history from the time of the dinosaurs to the present day. Visitors can view incredible objects highlighting the Island’s diverse historical past; including hands on displays and the latest archaeological finds, as well as visit a range of exciting, changing exhibitions throughout the year.
At the front of the museum is a Visitor Information Centre run by Visit Isle of Wight. Come and discover more about what you can see and do on this incredible Island.
The new exhibition for 2018 is Hidden Heroes of the Isle of Wight. The exhibition explores the stories of over 20 remarkable people who have contributed to the rich history of the Isle of Wight; from inventors and designers to artists and architects.
- See the steering wheel of Thrust 2 the car that held the land speed record for 14 years - designed by John Ackroyd of Ryde.
- Find out more about the important role of the Council’s Trading Standards department and view a selection of the weights and measures used on the Isle of Wight from as early as 1765.
- Discover more about transgender musician, poet and artist Bruce Laker / Phaedra J. Kelly. Bruce created the term ‘gender transient’, describing a person who does not want to be a man or a woman but someone who experiments with both identities. The term gender transient was included in the Oxford English Dictionary in the 1990s.
- Find out more about one of the very few known pupils of the artist JMW Turner. Lady Isabella Julia Levina Gordon lived was an accomplished artist in the nineteenth century.
For any enquiries about our collections please contact the Curator of Human History by using the 'send a message' to service found in the contact tab above or telephone: 01983 823433