Lincoln Museum is undergoing major redevelopment to create vibrant new displays which tell the story of our county
Lincoln Museum, formerly called ‘The Collection’, closed for redevelopment in October last year. Now work has started refitting the main archaeology gallery and preserving the precious artefacts in our collection.
This is the biggest overhaul of the spaces in the museum’s 20-year history since it opened in 2005. The new vision for the gallery will see updated displays installed to create an interactive, modern experience for visitors. We will also be refitting the museum shop, creating a new temporary exhibition space, and landscaping the outdoor courtyard.
The building work will take place throughout 2025 and we’ll announce the date of our grand reopening soon. To make way for the redevelopment, the collections team spent
weeks carefully removing each object from the old displays. This delicate process of decanting the museum displays put the care of these precious artefacts at its very heart, protecting them through every step of the gallery’s redevelopment.
Conservation work is so important to protect the county’s rich archaeological history for future generations. The thousands of objects have been painstakingly cleaned and repaired by our specialists – with some of this work still taking place at our labs – before being sent for cataloguing and safe storage.
For preservation officer, Michelle Johns, this wasn’t the first time she’d been hands on with all the artefacts in the museum’s displays. “I remember the conservation work and preparation for the displays when The Collection Museum – as it was – was getting ready to open back in 2005,” she said. “It was nice to be on this journey again and getting all
these items back out ready for the next chapter of Lincoln Museum.”
While work takes place in the museum, visitors can still enjoy amazing art, activities and events over at the neighbouring Usher Gallery, and relax in the Muse Coffee Bar.
Keep up to date with the redevelopment of Lincoln Museum and what’s on at the Usher Gallery by following ‘Lincoln Museum and Usher Gallery’ on Facebook and Instagram.