The Manx Museum is bursting with artefacts and treasures unique to the Isle of Man and presents the Story of Mann through films, galleries and interactive displays. The perfect place to discover Manx history and culture, and begin your journey around our fascinating Island.

Things to see and do:

• Watch the Story of Mann Film
• Relax in the National Art Gallery
• Marvel at national treasures including hoards of Viking silver and gold
• Uncover the history of Tynwald, the oldest continuous Parliament in the world.
• Explore the Manx landscape, wildlife and habitats
• Discover Manx culture, traditional industries and the story of wartime internment
• Learn about the world famous TT races, famous riders and their machines
• Visit the National Library and Archives
• Buy memorabilia of your visit in the Museum shop.
• Enjoy light refreshments or a meal in the café restaurant.
• Return for our latest exciting exhibition.

Information for Disabled Visitors:

Disabled car parking available. The route from the car park to the entrance is accessible to wheelchair users – the disabled parking spaces are directly in front of the main entrance. Convenient drop off point located outside the main entrance. Wheelchair accessible toilet facilities are available on the ground floor. The museum is fully accessible to wheelchair users with assistance. Lifts for public use are available to access the Lower Folk Gallery, Temporary Exhibition Gallery, Library and Archive and The Bayroom Restaurant. Staff receive disability awareness training. Guided tours can be arranged for visually impaired and blind visitors and large format information about the site can be provided. Registered assistance dogs are welcomed.

Coming soon...

• Research your Manx family tree at the new Manx Ancestry Centre - due to open in 2010.

Visitor Information

The Manx Museum is open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm and admission is free of charge.

Whilst planning your journey around our beautiful Island, you will find our Visitor Information page useful when planning visits to the Isle of Man's amazing museums, interpretive centres and historic sites. Alternatively, you can click here to watch a short film on the Story of Mann.

How to get there

• By road: situated on Kingswood Grove, signposted in Douglas. Follow road signs from the promenade to Chester Street multi-storey carpark. Take the lift to the 8th floor and walk across the foot bridge, head straight on for the main entrance (185 yards/170 meters).
• By foot: Walk to the rear entrance of Chester Street multi-storey carpark. Take the lift to the 8th floor and walk across the foot bridge, head straight on for the main entrance.
• By bus: services to Douglas commence from Ramsey, Port Erin, and Peel. Within Douglas, take any service from the Central Bus Station which stops at the Rosemount (max 5 minute journey). Then, walk down Windsor Road to the main entrance (260 yards/240 meters).
• Steam and electric railways: all stops to Douglas.
• Horse tram: disembark at the Gaiety Theatre
• Parking: There is a small car park with blue badge parking, 2 hour disc zone and multi-storey car park nearby with footbridge leading to the museum.

Heritage attractions nearby: The Great Laxey Wheel in Laxey and Rushen Abbey in Ballasalla.

Whilst planning your journey around our beautiful Island, you will find our Visitor Information page useful when planning visits to the Isle of Man's amazing museums, interpretive centres and historic sites. Alternatively, you can click here to watch a short film on the Story of Mann.

Manx Museum - Background and Development

In the latter half of the 19th century, Governor Loch’s appointment of an Archaeological Commission and the foundation of the Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society did much to galvanise public support for the concept of preserving the Island’s heritage. In 1886 the Museum and Ancient Monuments Trustees were established by Act of Tynwald.

In The Beginning

By coincidence, the building which houses the original Manx Museum was erected that same year but not until 1922, when the Henry Bloom Noble Trustees decided they needed to move the hospital to larger premises, was the building handed over as a first permanent home for the Manx Museum.

The first Curator, from 1922 to 1932, was P.M.C. Kermode, who had already spent a lifetime in antiquarian research in the Island and had been Secretary to the Manx Museum and Ancient Monuments Trustees since 1905. He enthusiastically set about bringing together the collections from the temporary museum in Castle Rushen, those stored at Peel, Government Office and several other locations together with the Antiquarian Society’s collections in Ramsey. In addition Kermode established an initial collection of local prints and pictures including the Baume bequest of works by the distinguished Manx artist J.M. Nicholson. Before his death in 1932 Kermode laid the foundations of the academic standards on which his successors have built.

At the 1922 opening ceremony the then Lieutenant Governor, Sir William Fry, said prophetically:

"Some may think this Museum rather small. All museums must have small beginnings, but there is no reason why this Museum should not grow. We have the ground for extension, and already plans are in view whereby it may be enlarged...It has always been in the minds of the Trustees that this should be an educational centre for the Island..."

The New Manx Museum

With the celebration of their centenary in 1986, the Trustees revealed plans for an ambitious programme of development including a major new £1.3 million extension scheme which would greatly enlarge the facilities on offer to the public.

The following two years saw the opening of a new Prehistoric Archaeology Gallery which won the ‘Museum of the Year’ award as the best new Archaeology Gallery in the British Isles, and a very successful temporary exhibition gallery, forming part of a phased redesign of all the Museum’s major galleries.

The new extension to the Manx Museum in Douglas had a royal opening in 1989 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Lord of Mann. The new building houses a lecture/film theatre with seating for over 200 people. From here the new National Art Gallery and dramatic Map Gallery link through into the redesigned galleries of the original building. Also accommodated are the Manx National Heritage Educational Services unit, a fully equipped conference area and a modern technical services area for the organisation’s hard-working technical team.

Today, this ‘Treasure House of Mann’ is the National Museum of the Island and headquarters of the Trust’s Island-wide services. Now the ability and skill of Manx National Heritage in co-ordinating all the Island’s heritage assets, together with greatly improved facilities and services, enables the Trust to effect a complete interpretative and marketing strategy for Manx heritage.

Click here to view a 360 degree panoramic view of the Manx Museum's Natural History Gallery

'The Story Of Mann' - An Introduction

‘The Story of Mann’ begins in the film theatre at the Manx Museum with a specially produced film portraying the major events in Manx history. As well as presenting a new introduction to the Manx Museum in Douglas, the new facilities are designed to provide an exciting starting point to explore the riches of our unique Manx heritage throughout the Island. The fine series of gallery displays completes the stimulating and memorable Manx Museum experience, providing a strong incentive for visitors to discover ‘The Story of Mann’ by exploring one of the richest historical landscapes in Europe.