The Collections

Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery has been actively collecting since 1897. Our fantastic collections have grown due to the generosity of generations of Plymouthians who have donated or bequested objects. The Museum preserves and exhibits these collections for the enjoyment of the city’s residents and visitors.

Collecting

We continue to add to the collections today and continually receive donations. We also purchase items important to Plymouth Heritage. This work is dependent on the continued support of generous benefactors, the Friends of the Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery and national grant-giving bodies. For further details on our current collecting priorities, please read our Collections Policies.

Use of Collections

Our collections form the basis for study and research by school children, students, personal and professional researchers, fellow curators and specialists from the locality and beyond. They also provide enjoyment and inspiration for all museum visitors.

Like most large collections the museum displays a proportion of its artefacts in the public galleries, both as long-running exhibitions and themed, temporary exhibition.