If you want to find out about the history and culture of the Isle of Man, this is the place to come to. It knocks spots off the “House of Manannan”:https://www.silvertraveladvisor.com/review/attraction/193817-review-house-of-manannan which is high on visuals but low on information. It is also FREE!
The museum is in the centre of Douglas, in the old Noble’s Hospital, which has been extended over the years as more and more galleries have been added. It covers 10,000 years of Manx History from the stone age to the modern day. The sections on the early Celts and the Vikings are particularly good with a lot of artefacts. The silver Viking hordes are particularly impressive!
The Middle Ages and later are covered is less depth with fewer artefacts. There is a very good military gallery with examples of costumes from the early C19th to the modern day, along with other military artefacts, including a ration biscuit from the First World War.
The Social History galleries supplement information from other Manx Heritage sites, with information about lead mining and the herring fishing industry. The Folk gallery in the basement complements Cregneash as well as the Grove Museum.
There are also sections on geology complete with the fossil skeleton of a giant elk, and natural history as well as the TT and holidays to the Isle of Man, complete with a double decker horse tram. There is even a small art gallery. There are also plenty of activities for the children too.
I had saved my visit for a wet day – and thoroughly enjoyed myself, spending over four hours here. It fully justified the time spent. In fact this is a place to revisit as there is too much information to assimilate in a single visit.
There are lockers for bags and you can take pictures inside too. I came back with nearly 300 pictures and have written separate reviews covering most of the galleries, to go with the pictures. There is also a cafe and shop. The Museum is open daily 10-5 and disabled friendly.
