A drover’s flintlock pistol and walking stick that once belonged to the Brae Lochaber drover Alexander MacArthur (1774 – approximately1844) was gifted to the Museum recently. This blog has been written for us by the donor. Droving cattle was an important part of the Highland economy up to and including the 19th century. The droves […]
Alexander MacArthur: The Brae Lochaber Drover Read More »
In 2025 the museum were gifted Alexander Finlayson Beaton’s wartime medals by his daughter Maggie Hardy (nee Beaton) and granddaughter Tracy Anderson. This fascinating account of Grandpa Beaton’s wartime experiences was written by his granddaughter and has also been gifted to the museum. It is published here by kind permission of Tracy Anderson. Alexander Finlayson
Grandpa Beaton’s World War II Story Read More »
This is the fascinating story of a Victorian oil painting that was bequeathed to the West Highland Museum in 1999, but an object that has never been inside the museum building. Letters and News at the Loch Side was given as a wedding gift to Gertrude Astley (1849 – 1920) from her sisters, Constance (1851
Letters and News at the Loch Side Read More »
The museum has six objects in its collection that once belonged to Colonel John Cameron of Fassifern (or Fassiefern), these include a childhood toy, a love token, and objects associated with his military service. Cameron was a cousin of the Camerons of Lochiel and educated partly at the grammar school in Fort William, but also
Military Stories: Colonel John Cameron of Fassefern (1771–1815) Read More »
This weekend the first Clan Cameron Gathering since 2009 will take place at Achnacarry between 1st and 4th August 2024. Clan Cameron Association define their gatherings as follows: The Chief of Clan Cameron “calls” his clansfolk to gather (or in the past, muster for military action). In centuries past this was done by sending runners
Clan Cameron Highlights at West Highland Museum Read More »
One question most often asked by our visitors is how we acquire our exhibits.
Some of our exhibits are gifted by individual donors, or by families c
THE HEPBURN BEQUEST Read More »
1. A milestone is within reach
The Museum celebrates its 100th birthday in May 2022. Descendants of original founders Victor Hodgson and Elizabeth
10 FACTS YOU (PROBABLY) DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT THE WEST HIGHLAND MUSEUM Read More »
Much of history is of great events – good or bad – often told from the point of view of the victor. But often on a journey through a museum little p
THE PERSONAL TOUCH: SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE MUSEUM’S COLLECTION Read More »
A relic of the museum’s early days in Fort William was donated back in 2013 when it turned up in a bookshop in Western Pennsylvania in the USA.
I
A GLIMPSE INTO THE HISTORY OF THE WEST HIGHLAND MUSEUM: THE 1925 JACOBITE EXHIBITION Read More »
