Stranraer Museum has a large and varied collection relating to the natural and human history of Wigtownshire. The collection includes archaeology, social history, geology, textiles, fine art and photography as well as archive material from the former burghs of Stranraer, Wigtown and Newton Stewart. The archaeology collection is particularly important and has recently been given National Recognition status as part of the Dumfries and Galloway Museum Service's archaeology collection. The archaeology collection contains significant local prehistoric material and includes the extensive medieval excavation assemblage from Whithorn. Local farming and dairying is well represented in the social history collection and of particular note is the Chilcarroch Plough, the only complete surviving example of an 18th century Old Scotch Plough. The social history collection also includes memorabilia relating to the Arctic explorer Admiral Sir John Ross.