Come on in, the doors are open!
High Life Highland is offering people a peek behind the scenes at several of its facilities during September as part of Doors Open Day.
Ever wondered what happens inside the red brick walls of the Highland Archive Centre in Inverness? Well now is your chance to find out!
The Highland Archive Centre is marking Doors Open Day on Saturday 7th September from 10am-4pm, with a variety of archive materials on show as well as resources from the Football Memories partnership.
This iconic, award-winning building, constructed at a cost of £10.5 million, with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, was opened in 2009. It is the state-of-the-art home for the historic records of Inverness-Shire, Ross and Cromarty, Sutherland and Nairnshire; and houses documents dating from the 13th century to the present day, including maps, records of schools, poor relief, churches and businesses, alongside family and estate papers.
The building is also home to a Family History Centre, the Inverness Registration Service and the Highland History and Culture website, Am Baile.
There will be an opportunity to ask the experts any questions about family history and learn about the conservation techniques used by the highly skilled conservation team, as well as activities for children.
Special tours are also taking place at 10.30am, 12.30pm and 2pm highlighting the workings of the building – these are free but booking is essential by emailing: [email protected].
The Nuclear and Caithness Archives, based at Wick Airport have their Doors Open Day later in the month, on Sunday 22nd September from 10am-3pm. This facility houses the historical archives of the county of Caithness which date from the 1469 to the present day and consists of documents in different formats including charters, minute books, correspondence, maps, photographs and plans.
For Doors Open Day, Nucleus will have an exhibition relating to the theme of Routes, Networks and Connections as well as bookable tours to the restricted areas of the building. Three behind-the-scenes tours are on offer – with pre-booking essential – at 11am, 12.30pm and 2pm. Please email [email protected]
The Highland Folk Museum in Newtonmore is also hosting its own version of Doors Open day on Sunday 15th September. The collections at the Highland Folk Museum mainly reflect the social and rural way of life of the Scottish Highlands from the 1700s up to the mid-1900s. The Am Fasgadh building – a purpose built facility opened in 2013 housing over 15,000 objects – will be open to visitors in the morning and there will be storytelling in the Traveller Tent. For more information email: [email protected]
Judi Menabney, Head of Archives, Museums and Galleries at High Life Highland said: “We are delighted to be able to open up some of our more restricted areas to visitors as part of Doors Open Day. We hope that lots of people will take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about the Highland Archive Service and our fantastic collections the Highland Folk Museum.”
