Museums on the Yorkshire Coast

The Yorkshire coast has been witness to turbulent events across history – and thanks to our museum offering you can discover these stories for yourself.

Uncover Pre-History

Be transported back so far back in time that you reach a period when great reptiles ruled the land!

That’s right, the Yorkshire coast is known as the ‘Dinosaur Coast’ thanks to the abundance of fossils that can be found across our beautiful beaches.

One of the most iconic places to visit to uncover the stories of the dinosaurs is The Rotunda Museum in Scarborough. Known for its fascinating collection of fossils, you’ll be able to come face to face with some of the many creatures that once roamed the Yorkshire coast.

The Place of Explorers, Raiders and Smugglers

The Yorkshire coast has been home to daring seafarers for centuries – with the fierce Vikings storming the shores of Whitby during their conquest of England.

Later the same coastal town became home to a different kind of daring explorer, with Captain James Cook who charted a course of discovery to the New World in his famous Whitby built ships, HM Bark Endeavour and HMS Resolution. You can explore his story at the Captain Cook Memorial Museum and even look out across the harbour to see a replica of his most famous ship, Endeavour.

Across the Yorkshire coast, you will be able to explore the stories of everyday people and the impact they had on the places they lived. Go back in time and explore rural life at Ryedale Folk Museum or discover the history of life by the sea at the Scarborough Maritime Heritage Centre.

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