Date revealed for reopening of Dorset museum

£16m renovations have added four new galleries, a café and a shop

Author: George SharpePublished 6th May 2021
Last updated 6th May 2021

Dorset Museum, formerly Dorset County Museum, is reopening its doors after a £16m revamp.

The museum in Dorchester will be welcoming visitors back on the 28th May, just 11 days after lockdown restrictions allow.

More of the museum's internationally significant collections of archaeology, social and natural history will be on display than ever before.

The building has three times the space it had before and many galleries have been reimagined to inspire.

The new museum has updated its accessibility with full wheelchair access, toilets and baby changing facilities on every level. It also features Dorchester's first changing places toilet.

Dorset Museum executive director, Dr Jon Murden said: "It is extremely satisfying to have got to this point and be on the verge of revealing our new museum to the world.

"Despite all the challenges we have faced, the team here has never lost faith in our vision to reimagine and re-invigorate Dorset's Museum, securing its future and the future of its globally important collections for generations to come.

"We can't wait now to finally open our doors on 28th May and play our part in the recovery that Dorset is sure to experience this summer as we gradually emerge from lockdown."