Our Island museums

The Museum service collects and preserves items relating to the Island's history, archaeology and geology, and displays a range of these collections through its public museums. You can view some of these collections at:

• Newport Roman Villa
• Cowes Maritime Museum
• Temporary exhibitions and events
  
• Heritage Education Service
• Museum of Island History
• Museums and schools project
  
• Temporary exhibitions and events
  
• Dinosaur Isle
• Watercolour World

Our Museum service handles identifications and enquiries relating to museum objects and provides professional advice to organisations and individuals on collection care and other museum issues.

Discover more about the sites and collections of the Isle of Wight Heritage Service through our fun, craft based activity packs. All craft activities will require simple materials which you will hopefully have at home.

Select the links below to download your fun activity packs:

• Make your own dragon puppet (PDF, 556KB) 
• Crazy coins – make your own Roman purse (PDF, 671KB) 
  
• Underwater exploration (PDF, 959KB) 
• Super sundials and wonderful water clocks (PDF, 827KB) 
• Cartoon history of the Isle of Wight (PDF, 852KB)

There are also a range of activities to support visits to our museum sites:

• Newport Roman Villa
• Museum of Island History

Museums and Schools Programme

The Museums and Schools programme aims to enhance the links between local schools and museums. It is supported by Arts Council England and funded through the Department for Education.

The Isle of Wight Heritage Service currently leads the Isle of Wight Museums and Schools partnership. This is a group of museums and cultural organisations from across the Island which work together to engage with local schools. The partnership has developed a range of new workshop sessions, activities and resources to support heritage education.

To find out more about the partnership's work and explore some of the fun and creative activities available online for all, for free, view Museums and Schools on the Isle of Wight Cultural Education Partnership (IWCEP) website or email museums@iow.gov.uk.