A wealth of information about Dorset's history and culture awaits visitors to the Dorset County Museum. Six Galleries cover 200million years of the county's history and natural environment, enabling every visitor to appreciate the richness of Dorset's past and present.
The Ancient Dorset and the Jurassic Coast Galleries are two of the popular galleries for visitors. The Ancient Dorset Gallery displays in a tableau form the lives and artefacts that the many different peoples who lived on and around the South Dorset Ridgeway left. Starting with the Ancient Britons the displays show what we have discovered about the Romans, Saxons and Vikings. They left wonderful jewellery, pottery and many coins. The Romans left intriguing mosaics from the many houses and Villas found in Dorset and some of them adorn the floor and walls of the museum.
In the Jurassic Gallery the fossilised jaw and skull of a huge Pliosaur has won the title of the 'World's biggest bite'. When it was alive this creature would have measured nearly 18m long!. Many other fossils from the Museum's extensive collection illustrate the Jurassic era in Dorset. The other Galleries set out the history of Dorchester, Dorset's rural legacy, and famous Dorset writers. One of the features of the writers gallery is a reconstruction of Thomas Hardy's study at Max gate. It contains all of his books papers, pens and other items that made up his study in his later years generously donated by his last wife.
The museum has its own tea room and gift shop where visitors can relax and enjoy a pot of tea or coffee and browse for unique gifts.
Local
Eat and Drink
- Sculpture by the Lakes - Dorchester (6.0 miles) - Nestled in 26 acres of Dorset’s glorious countryside lies Sculpture by the Lakes, an oasis for art...
- Mallams Restaurant - Weymouth (7.6 miles) - Established in 1990 we have been providing this fantastic food served in our beautiful grade 2 liste...
- The Boot - Weymouth (7.6 miles) - The Boot is Weymouth's Oldest and most traditional pub. We serve 10 award-winning cask ales, a g...
- Monkey World - Ape Rescue Centre - Near Wareham (9.8 miles) - With over 250 primates of 20 different species, Monkey World is the largest sanctuary of its kind in...
- The Greyhound - Winterborne Kingston - Blandford Forum (11.4 miles) - Situated in the picturesque village of Winterborne Kingston & surrounded by the beautiful Dorset cou...
See and Do
- Dorset County Museum Dorchester (0.0 miles) - A wealth of information about Dorset's history and culture awaits visitors to the Dorset County ...
- Dorset County Museum Dorchester (0.0 miles) - Discover 200 million years of Dorset’s past in this award-winning museum. Housing a wide variety o...
- Tutankhamun Exhibition Dorchester (0.1 miles) - Experience the magnificence and wonder of the world's greatest discovery of ancient treasure. Be...
- Dinosaur Museum Dorchester (0.2 miles) - The only museum on mainland Britain dedicated to dinosaurs; the original Dinosaur Museum is a treat,...
- Teddy Bear Museum Dorchester (0.2 miles) - This unique family museum has evocative and atmospheric displays of teddy bears from throughout the ...
Shopping
- Fossil Beach - weymouth (7.3 miles) - Situated at the beach end of St. Mary' Street Weymouth, Fossil beach is a unique gift shop based...
- Monkey World - Ape Rescue Centre - Near Wareham (9.8 miles) - With over 250 primates of 20 different species, Monkey World is the largest sanctuary of its kind in...
- Dorset Holiday Barns - Over Compton (Sherborne) (17.4 miles) - Meadow View Barn and The Shippens offer an escape to the Dorset countryside with modern 2 and 3 bed ...
- Todber Manor Fisheries - Sturminster Newton (19.6 miles) - Todber Manor Fisheries is set in the heart of the Dorset countryside and is the home of some of t...
