Museum

There is always an ever changing programme of exhibitions and new things to experience in the events that happen regularly and also the workshops for all the family to enjoy.

The collections are superb and include geology and archaeology mostly of the Peak District, but also of decorative arts, archives, photographs and much, much more. Some of the particularly important and interesting collections include Carboniferous Limestone deposits which were collected between 1900 - 1950 throughout all areas of the Peak District, ice age animal bones and teeth from caves and quarries, mineral collections, including Blue John, local specimens and cave deposits and also a unique collection of decorative Ashford black marble objects and the tools used to work it.

The archives and libraries of Prof Sir William Boyd Dawkins and Dr J. W. Jackson, who were prominent geologists associated with the county and with Manchester Museum, are on show as well as board photographic collection of images of Buxton, local social history, an art collection of mostly 19th and 20th century importance such as oil, watercolours and prints, but also Randolph Douglas, 'House of Wonders' collection from Castleton, which includes a huge collection of locks and keys and some very unusual Houdini material.

All the collections are displayed in the Wonders of the Peak Time Tunnel, the award-winning gallery going back in time from the Big Bang to the Victorians as well as in temporary exhibitions. There are seven environments which will have been created complete with sounds and smells and visitors can wander into a prehistoric forest, scare themselves silly with the bear in its Ice Age cave and crawl inside the Neolithic burial chamber and then salute the Roman soldier as well as meeting a mermaid!

There is also evidence of many wonderful creatures such as dragonflies, sharks and sabre tooth cats and many other items which are evidence of who previously walked through the Peak District in the past.

A busy programme of temporary exhibitions, also takes place throughout the year in three temporary exhibition galleries. A half years programme leaflet is available from the museum or tourist information centre. Most artists hold previews for their exhibitions and the public are invited to join them or can also join the mailing list for invitations. Artists usually sell their work and can provide the public with an opportunity to buy contemporary pictures, craft and sculpture and applications are welcomed from all artists, whether emerging or well-established to show their work in the galleries.

Buxton Museum and Art Gallery is closed on Mondays except summer bank holidays and is open Tuesday to Friday, 9.30 am to 5.30 pm, Saturday 9.30 am to 5 pm and Sundays and bank holidays from Easter to 30 September, 10.30 am to 5 pm. There is a wonderful shop which stocks colourful minerals, fascinating fossils and gift items made from decorative stones, as well as local history and special interest books.