Larne Museum & Arts Centre
Address: | 2 Victoria Road Northern Ireland LARNE County Antrim BT40 1RN |
Telephone: | 028 2826 2443 |
Website: | www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk/things-to-do/museums-arts/larne-museum-and-arts-centre |
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Larne Museum & Arts Centre
Built in 1905, this historic building opened its doors to the public in 1906 as the Carnegie Free Library following financial assistance from the American millionaire and philanthropist Mr Andrew Carnegie. In 2005, to commemorate its centenary year, the building was restored and renovated, retaining many of its original features. The building is also now home to Larne Art Club and Larne Drama Circle.
Education
Larne Museum & Arts Centre provides a variety of educational services. We also run events specifically tailored to schools. For more details or to book into one of our programmes please give us a call on 028 28 262443 or email marian.kelso@midandeastantrim.gov.uk.

Famine
An interactive education programme designed by staff at Larne Museum & Arts Centre. The famine programme uses props, drama and team work to allow pupils to investigate the choices that families faced during the famine of 1845.
Victorian
Larne Museum & Arts Centre currently offers a variety of Victorian learning experiences. Handling Sessions. Come to the museum and let your class (under the watchful eye of trained museum personnel) handle and learn about real Victorian artefacts from Larne, including clothing, household and school room items. This session can be fitted into a half hour session or can be a longer session to create a more lasting Victorian experience. Call us for more details.
Viking Loan Box
The Viking Loan Box is now available. £30 for seven days which includes a £10 refundable deposit. Book now to avoid disappointment. Handling sessions. These can be carried out in the museum, come and learn about the Vikings, their daily lives including food, gods, ships, weapons, clothes, crafts and much more.
World War 2 Loan Box
The World War 2 Loan Box is now available. £30 for seven days which includes a £10 refundable deposit. Book now to avoid disappointment.

The Main Gallery hosts permanent displays reflecting the agricultural, industrial, military and maritime history of the area. Larne is a principal gateway into Northern Ireland and the strong maritime links of this east Antrim coastal community are portrayed through a variety of exhibits relating to the first roll-on, roll-off ferries, the Royal Navy and the Princess Victoria disaster. Larne’s rural hinterland, which includes two of the nine glens of Antrim, is well represented in the museum’s folk life display. The War and Conflict section hosts objects from the Home Rule Crisis, Larne Gun Running and the First and Second World Wars. Visitors can access accounts and memories of local people through oral history listening posts and can browse through photographs in a digital community archive. New donations to the collection are accepted.

The ‘John Clifford Gallery’ plays host to a variety of temporary exhibitions throughout the year. These can include in-house or touring exhibitions and exhibitions by local groups and individuals. If you would like to book exhibition space, please ask at reception for details.
The museum is managed by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, and forms part of the Mid-Antrim Museums Service alongside similar local museums in Ballymena, Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey.
The Museum is open Monday - Friday, 10.00am - 4.30pm each day. Admission Free.
Built in 1905, this historic building opened its doors to the public in 1906 as the Carnegie Free Library following financial assistance from the American millionaire and philanthropist Mr Andrew Carnegie. In 2005, to commemorate its centenary year, the building was restored and renovated, retaining many of its original features. The building is also now home to Larne Art Club and Larne Drama Circle.
Education
Larne Museum & Arts Centre provides a variety of educational services. We also run events specifically tailored to schools. For more details or to book into one of our programmes please give us a call on 028 28 262443 or email marian.kelso@midandeastantrim.gov.uk.

Famine
An interactive education programme designed by staff at Larne Museum & Arts Centre. The famine programme uses props, drama and team work to allow pupils to investigate the choices that families faced during the famine of 1845.
Victorian
Larne Museum & Arts Centre currently offers a variety of Victorian learning experiences. Handling Sessions. Come to the museum and let your class (under the watchful eye of trained museum personnel) handle and learn about real Victorian artefacts from Larne, including clothing, household and school room items. This session can be fitted into a half hour session or can be a longer session to create a more lasting Victorian experience. Call us for more details.
Viking Loan Box
The Viking Loan Box is now available. £30 for seven days which includes a £10 refundable deposit. Book now to avoid disappointment. Handling sessions. These can be carried out in the museum, come and learn about the Vikings, their daily lives including food, gods, ships, weapons, clothes, crafts and much more.
World War 2 Loan Box
The World War 2 Loan Box is now available. £30 for seven days which includes a £10 refundable deposit. Book now to avoid disappointment.

The Main Gallery hosts permanent displays reflecting the agricultural, industrial, military and maritime history of the area. Larne is a principal gateway into Northern Ireland and the strong maritime links of this east Antrim coastal community are portrayed through a variety of exhibits relating to the first roll-on, roll-off ferries, the Royal Navy and the Princess Victoria disaster. Larne’s rural hinterland, which includes two of the nine glens of Antrim, is well represented in the museum’s folk life display. The War and Conflict section hosts objects from the Home Rule Crisis, Larne Gun Running and the First and Second World Wars. Visitors can access accounts and memories of local people through oral history listening posts and can browse through photographs in a digital community archive. New donations to the collection are accepted.

The ‘John Clifford Gallery’ plays host to a variety of temporary exhibitions throughout the year. These can include in-house or touring exhibitions and exhibitions by local groups and individuals. If you would like to book exhibition space, please ask at reception for details.
The museum is managed by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, and forms part of the Mid-Antrim Museums Service alongside similar local museums in Ballymena, Carrickfergus and Newtownabbey.
The Museum is open Monday - Friday, 10.00am - 4.30pm each day. Admission Free.
