The Museum's Collections are broad in scope, ranging from archaeology, to decorative and fine art, to social and industrial history, geology and natural history.

Archaeology

This Collection mostly consists of archaeological material from Caithness, although there is a small Collection of material from elsewhere in Scotland and from other countries. Significant elements of the Archaeology Collection are:

1) A small number of worked stone objects, including stone tools and quern stones from various locations in Caithness

2) A Bronze Age clay beaker which was found near Achavanich

3) A late Neolithic/early Bronze Age carved stone ball which was found in the Thurso River by Robert Dick

4) A Pictish standing stone which is known as the Skinnet Stone

5) A Viking cross shaped gravestone which is incised with runic letters that was found near to old St. Peter’s Church, Thurso in 1896

6) A Viking bronze axe head which was found in a barn wall at Lower Howe near Thurso

7) Bronze pins, fragments of bone comb and two spindle whorls which were found at the Norse settlement site at Freswick

8) Iron Age finds from the broch at Killmister which include a broken stone bowl, two stone pot lids, slingshots used for hunting, a spindle whorl, a piece of cooking pot and flint scrapers

Geology & Palaeontology

This Collection consists of rocks, minerals, crystals and fossils. Significant elements of the Geology and Palaeontology Collection are the examples of the fossil fish of Caithness which belong to the Devonian period about 380 million years ago and include:

1) Dipterus valenciennesi

2) Osteolepis

3) Thursius pholidotus

Natural History

This Collection consists of mounted specimens representative of the birds native to Caithness and migrant species, birds’ eggs, shells and the herbariums of Robert Dick, Richard Lindsay and Mrs Horne of Stirkoke. The most significant element of the Natural History Collection is the Herbarium of Robert Dick (1811 – 1866). Robert Dick was a baker and renowned self-taught botanist, geologist and naturalist. He was born in Tullibody, Clackmannanshire. His father, Thomas Dick was an Officer of Excise. In 1826, Thomas Dick was promoted to Supervisor of Excise and moved to Thurso. In the summer of 1830, Robert Dick travelled to Thurso where he set up his own baker’s shop. Robert Dick collected fossils, shells and botanical specimens. His Herbarium contains around 3000 specimens which are mounted on around 2400 sheets of paper.

Other significant elements of the Natural History Collection are:

1) A framed example of Northern Holy Grass (Hierochloe Borealis) which was found near Thurso by Robert Dick

2) The fossils and shells collected by Robert Dick

Decorative & Fine Art

The Decorative Art Collection is small and contains objects made by local craftspeople. Ceramics made by the Fisherbiggins Pottery in Thurso in the 1970s and commemorative items decorated with scenes of Thurso and/or Caithness are contained within the Collection. The Collection also contains the death mask of Robert Dick. The Decorative Art Collection also contains costume and textiles. The Fine Art Collection is made up of prints, drawings, oil and watercolour paintings, many of which have a local connection in terms of subject matter or have been painted by artists that have a connection with Thurso and/or Caithness.

Social & Industrial History

The Social and Industrial History Collections are broad in scope and relate to Thurso in particular and Caithness in general and can broadly be described as covering the following subject areas:

1) Agriculture

2) Domestic life

3) Fishing

4) Medals and tokens

5) Military history

6) Social life

7) Technology and the nuclear industry

8) Thurso Burgh history

9) Trade and transport

10) Vernacular furniture

Archival Material

The Collections contain a broad range of archival material which includes the books of Robert Dick including those given to him by his friend the geologist Hugh Miller, along with advertisements, school books and Bibles.

Photographs & Photographic Reproductions

The Collections contain photographs and photographic reproductions such as postcards which feature scenes that depict the places, people and special events associated with Thurso and/or Caithness.