Virtual Museum

Woolworths in Lisburn opened in 1928 on Bow Street, the town’s main thoroughfare.  Expanding following a major refurbishment in 1966, […]

You may have heard of the ominous sounding Egyptian ‘Book of the Dead’, but do you know what it actually

In late July 2023 a statue of the famous 19th-century social reformer and abolitionist, Frederick Douglass was unveiled in Lombard

Did you know that a County Down-based Church of Ireland clergyman had a significant role in our understanding of hieroglyphs?

Rectangular drawing and writing boards were important educational tools in ancient Egypt. Made from wood and covered with a thin

Did you know that your local museum has a sample of Tutankhamun’s linen on display? Do you know how it

Worshiping the dead was an important feature of ancient Egyptian society. While pyramids and elaborately decorated tombs were prominent memorials

Author, traveller, and one-time MP for Lisburn, Sir James Emerson Tennent (1804–69) was a prominent early member of the Belfast

Private Alec Martin (1895-1915) was born in Magheragall, near Lisburn. In 1913, seeking new opportunities he emigrated to New Zealand.

One of the most significant archaeological discoveries of modern times was made on July 15, 1799. What is known as

What connects a gold watch from our collection and the classic novel, Moby-Dick? During the devastating ‘cotton famine’ of 1861-5,

Do you know what a Shabti doll is? Would you like to know how three of them ended up in

This photograph of Ramses II’s statue at the Luxor Temple was taken by Lisburn-born soldier, Major William Sinclair Corken MBE.

Today’s Virtual Museum post features one of the standout artefacts from the British Museum’s touring exhibition ‘Egyptian hieroglyphs: unlock the

This week’s Virtual Museum post is a walk down Bridge Street, featuring some classic cars of the era. Can you

This week’s Virtual Museum post is a snapshot from our photographic collection. A family heading off on an outing at

Our Virtual Museum post this week is a photograph from our collection, dated June 1951. Pictured at the Child Welfare

The Virtual Museum post for this week is a 1938 photograph of employees at the Robert Stewart & Sons thread

This week’s Virtual Museum post is another photograph drawn from our extensive collection. Dated 1939, it features a group of

With preparations for King Charles III’s Coronation celebrations underway, our Virtual Museum post this week looks at a previous Coronation

The 28th April 2023 marks the centenary of the unveiling of Lisburn’s War Memorial at Castle Gardens. This week’s Virtual

Journalist, historian and author, Hugh McCall was born on the 21st April 1805 in Chapel Hill, Lisburn. He was the

This week’s Virtual Museum post features an important artefact from the town’s rich history.  Located at the entrance of the

This week’s Virtual Museum post is another drawn from our photographic collection. It captures the demolition of the old Lisburn

This week’s Virtual Museum post is another item drawn from our photographic collection. Taken in the early 1900s, it features

Do you remember Crazy Prices in Bow Street, Lisburn?  It was developed in the late 1980s on former site of

Our Virtual Museum post for this week is a photograph drawn from our photographic collection of the men who built

Take a look at this image which was kindly  donated to our collection by avid local photographer Mr John Press.

This week’s Virtual Museum post is a scene which has sadly disappeared from our countryside, the rural railway station. Drawn

This week’s Virtual Museum post delves into our photographic collection to look at a 1930 initiative by the Lisburn Chamber

To mark International Women’s Day we are exploring the life of Mrs Lillian Metge, a local woman who played a

Did you know that the village of Hilden has strong historical connections with with the city of Paterson, New Jersey?

Radio Rentals, once a feature of highstreets across the UK was the first company to offer domestic entertainment equipment rentals.

An image from our photographic collection featuring a row of derelict houses, located just behind Bridge street. The image was

Take a look at this great image from our photographic collection. The image shows Market Place looking from the Tower

This week’s Virtual Museum item is a 1938 photograph of the No. 3 Spinning Room staff at Wm. Barbour &

Today marks the anniversary of the unveiing of a statue of Brigadier-General John Nicholson (1822-57). It was presented to the

Frederick Hermann, the 1st Duke of Schomberg was King William’s principal general in Ireland between 1689 and up until his

Do you remember or know anyone who worked at Jordan’s Mill? The flour mill situated on Antrim Street, operated for

Christmas is a time when separation from loved ones is most keenly felt. The separation from one’s family in times

A festive feature from our photographic collection, but can you guess what year it was taken? Answer revealed below! Market

  Are you in the festive spirit yet? Take a look at this photograph from our collection featuring a seasonal

This week’s Virtual Museum post focuses on an item in the museum’s collection which was discovered in nearby Castle Gardens.

At this time of the year, during the pre-Christmas rush everyone is busy, not least the shopkeepers and traders of

The Big Freeze of 1963 Remaining one of the coldest winters on record, 1962 saw a series of blizzards cover

Our latest Virtual Museum post is a snapshot of what is undoubtedly Lisburn’s oldest tradition, market day. This striking photograph,

Bridge Street has been one of Lisburn’s most important areas going right back to its earliest times. The street’s close

This Virtual Museum post focuses upon a fascinating item from the Second World War … a poster advertising a local

Do you remember Crazy Prices in Bow Street, Lisburn?  It was developed in the late 1980s on former site of

As the Irish linen industry grew at the turn of the eighteenth century, linen merchants felt that a governing body

This past week marked 100 years since the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb near Luxor, Egypt, an event which made headlines

Today’s Virtual Museum post pays tribute to inventor Harry Ferguson, who was born on this day (4th November) 1884 just

Can you guess the year of this Bow Street scene? A shot of a busy Bow Street from our photographic

Halloween is with us once again. In shop windows costumes, props, sweets and nuts have been displayed for weeks now.

As present day energy costs are never far from the news headlines, this week’s Virtual Museum blog post looks back

In a previous Virtual Museum post we looked at the 1837 wedding of Arthur Wills Hill and Caroline Frances Stapleton

Harp making has a long history on the island of Ireland, going back over a thousand years. A specialist craft

Over the past twelve days the world has been captivated by the news of the death of Her Majesty, Queen

Emma with out 160-year old loom! On 1 September 2022 Emma, our Assistant Education Officer, contributed to BBC’s Six Music

In the late nineteenth century cycling became a popular pastime across many parts of the world. Initially a quite expensive

Hillsborough Castle, the famous eighteenth century Georgian mansion, which is today the official residence in Northern Ireland of Queen Elizabeth

Do you ever feel like you’re being watched by paintings? Don’t worry, you aren’t actually imagining things. The reason for

Object: Postcard Featuring The Lake, Wallace Park c1900 With summer right around the corner, it’s time to take advantage of

Arch welcoming King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, June 1937 As the people of Lisburn & Castlereagh mark the Queen’s

Can you guess the year? The Radio Valley float as part of the Lord Mayor’s Parade. Crowds can be seen

Video: a Barbour Rolls Royce What a fantastic video!  Follow the link to view this ITV video of John D.

Proof Cloth, Clemow’s Hotel Queenstown, woven at John Shaw Brown’s Donated in 2021 this fantastic proof cloth was woven at