What's new...

A fun painting created by visiting children during the Big Draw event

Summer holiday activities: Free fun for all the family

There is a packed programme of free activities on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday afternoons at the museum while Smithills Hall and Hall i' th' Wood have free entry for children until the end of August. Keep an eye on the What's on section for details


Search iconSearch the museum and archive collection online

Local historians, art buffs and budding Egyptologists can now search many of the collections items online. There are several thousand images of objects available already and more will be added over time.


125th anniversary of Bolton Museum 

logo125th anniversary talks at Bolton Museum

This year marks the 125th year since Bolton Council first employed William Waller Midgley in 1883 as its first professional curator. To celebrate this fact there are a number of free lunchtime talks.


Exhibitions...

The Artist and the Author’s Tale

9th August to 1st November 2008 @ Bolton Museum
This is an exhibition of original illustrations by artist Helen Flook, from bestselling author Terry Deary’s new series of history books for children.

Face to Face

17th May to 6th September 2008 @ Bolton Museum
A fun and family friendly exhibition with activites and interactive displays. The way the faces of the people of Bolton have changed over tiime to the way celebrities are portrayed can be explored here.

Holidaytown

19th July to 18th October 2008 @ Bolton Museum
An intimate exhibition of photography by Humphrey Spender looking at summer fun during the 1930s and 1940s.

View all Exhibitions


Bolton Museum Services include...

thumbnail view of 

Hall i'th' WoodHall i' th' Wood

Discover Hall i’ th’ Wood Museum, a 15th century half-timbered hall and birthplace of the spinning mule.

Detail of Smithills 

HallSmithills Hall

Explore Smithills Hall, a Grade 1 listed building set in formal gardens on the edge of the West Pennine Moors.


thumbnail view of 

Bolton MuseumMuseum & Archive

Bolton Museum and Archive service is located above the Library behind the Town hall on Le Mans Crescent.

thumbnail Aquarium imageBolton Aquarium

The only public aquarium in Greater Manchester. Come and see the amazing knife fish, piranha and many more.

Features...

Bolton Observed

Working mans hair specialist - a detail of a 

photgraph taken by Humphrey Spender for the Mass Observation

Bolton, the town and its people as photographed by Humphrey Spender for the Mass Observation.



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