Ravenspoint Centre Museum

About

Founded in 1990, the Pairc Historical Society operates the Ravenspoint Museum, which a group of local volunteers maintains. The Museum holds an archive and object collections linked to the community of Pairc, families and industry. It incorporates the Angus MacLeod Archive which includes extensive research documents and oral histories. The Society is an active and enthusiastic group, always willing to share local knowledge. Information and history. The Society produces booklets on the area and a quarterly magazine, Tional available from the on-site shop.

The Pairc Historical Society was among four groups involved in the first phase of Hebridean Connections, a web-based archive of croft and family history. Much of its genealogical data, archive material and photographs of artefacts have been digitised and are accessible via the Hebridean Connections community archive. The Ravenspoint Museum has a wide variety of interesting artefacts, documents, and photographs in well-presented displays. It has recently installed a large-format ‘touch screen’ with short videos that help interpret and describe local history, landscape, and personalities. The Museum hosts a wide range of accessible information and items related to crofting, woollen tweed production and the local fishing industry.

Some notable items in the collection include

• a travelling pulpit
• a typical and fully furnished kitchen re-creation
• artefacts related to the Iolaire Disaster
• explanations of the connection between Pairc and Patagonia 
• whaling artefacts from the early 20th century
• A featured display includes items related to Angus Macmillan known as the Hero of Buzancy, who was the most highly decorated Lewisman in the Great War

The museum hosts regular exhibitions and events promoting local history, Gaelic culture and creativity. A children’s quiz challenge helps younger people to explore and begin to understand the importance of the Hebridean way of life.