Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom Scotland Port Charlotte Museum Of Islay Life
AO Edited

Museum Of Islay Life

A former church that has been chronicling the Scottish island of Islay's rich history since the 70s.

Port Charlotte, Scotland

Added By
Obscuravibes
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Museum of Islay Life   david pearson / Alamy Stock Photo
Former Kilchoman Free Church now Museum of Islay Life.   J M Briscoe
Port Charlotte - Museum of Islay Life.   Otter
  MSeses / CC BY-SA 4.0
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The Museum of Islay Life is a fascinating attraction on the remote Scottish island of Islay, the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Located in the small village of Port Charlotte, this museum illustrates the remarkable history of Islay from prehistoric to modern times over a period of around 12,000 years. Located in what was once the old Kilchoman Free Church, the museum opened in 1977 with the aim of conservation and education to represent the history of life on Islay.

The Kilchoman Free Church was last used as a place of worship in 1929 and after being purchased for a nominal sum, the Islay Museums Trust took on the task of transforming this disused building into a museum. The museum holds a large variety of old photographs, books, and interesting objects, many of which were donated by local islanders. It's said that the collection now holds over 2,700 objects.

Islay is an area steeped in history and this is reflected in the story that the museum tells. The first inhabitants were from the Mesolithic period, settling around 8,000 B.C. The next major settlers were Celts, and it was in the 6th century that Islay formed part of the Gaelic kingdom of Dál Riata.

The museum holds many items of nautical significance, informing viewers of the history and tragedies of the sea.  One interesting item is the ship bell from the SS Tuscania, a luxury liner transporting American soldiers to Europe which was sunk off the coast of Islay by a German U-Boat in 1918. 

There is a small section of the museum that displays and educates viewers about the history of carved stones. Some of these standing stones date as far back as the 1500s, and their carvings create enchanted mysteries about the history of these remote Scottish locations. 

Related Tags

Islands History & Culture Museums

Know Before You Go

The current opening hours of the museum are 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. Entrance for children is free.

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Flavors of Scotland: Beyond the Haggis

Smoked seafood, single malt whisky, and warm hospitality.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

Obscuravibes

Edited By

gwsutcliffe, Michelle Cassidy

  • gwsutcliffe
  • Michelle Cassidy

Published

September 8, 2022

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.islaymuseum.org/about-islay-museum/
Museum Of Islay Life
12 Bruach Gorm
Port Charlotte, Scotland, PA48 7UG
United Kingdom
55.74251, -6.378656
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Tooth Stone

Port Charlotte, Scotland

miles away

MacTaggart Leisure Centre

Bowmore, Scotland

miles away

Bowmore Round Church

Bowmore, Scotland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Port Charlotte

Port Charlotte

Scotland

Places 2

Nearby Places

Tooth Stone

Port Charlotte, Scotland

miles away

MacTaggart Leisure Centre

Bowmore, Scotland

miles away

Bowmore Round Church

Bowmore, Scotland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Port Charlotte

Port Charlotte

Scotland

Places 2

Related Places

  • Ciutadella de Menorca, Spain

    Museu Diocesà de Menorca

    Housed in a former convent, this museum has a collection of religious art, artifacts, and scientific objects that offer insights into the island's spiritual, cultural, and intellectual heritage.

  • Enklinge, Åland Islands

    Hermas Homestead Museum

    This archipelago homestead-turned-museum has remained the same since its last resident, born in 1897, died in 1973.

  • Savannah, Georgia

    WEBB Military Museum

    At this privately owned collection, conflicts are humanized through soldiers’ personal belongings.

    Sponsored by Visit Savannah
  • Odawara, Japan

    Suzuhiro Kamaboko Museum

    Dedicated to the history and culture of Japanese fishcake, this museum invites you to take part in its kamaboko-making workshop.

  • One of the galleries in the modern section of the Manchester Jewish Museum.

    Manchester, England

    Manchester Jewish Museum

    A Victorian synagogue-turned-museum chronicles centuries of Jewish life.

  • Portumna, Ireland

    Irish Workhouse Centre

    A well-preserved, 19th-century Irish workhouse recounts a grim time in the country’s history.

  • Exterior of the Tasso Heritage Center

    Pepel, Sierra Leone

    Tasso Heritage Center

    A community heritage center on an overlooked island in the Sierra Leone River estuary.

  • Manjira

    Meknes, Morocco

    Dar Jamai Museum

    A museum dedicated to the musical instruments used in traditional Moroccan music.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.