Uncover Our History

The story of this beautiful village and the remarkable people who shaped it.

Immerse yourself in the fascinating history of Staithes with our carefully curated collections and the help of our dedicated volunteers. From Captain Cook’s early years to the village’s rich maritime and artistic heritage, our exhibits offer a unique journey through time. With over 4,000 objects, including rare photographs, detailed models, beautiful prints, paintings, intricate clocks, and historic tools, there’s always something new to discover. Entry is free, and we rely on the generosity of our visitors to keep the museum thriving. Visit us today and uncover the stories that shaped this remarkable coastal village.

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Entrance is free

We're open every day from 10:30-16:30.

Last entrance is 16:15.

Dogs are welcome

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Please donate to keep the museum going!

Staithes Museum relies on your generous donations to preserve and share the rich heritage of our village, from Captain Cook's legacy to the voices of our community. Every contribution helps us care for our collection, run engaging exhibits, and keep history alive for future generations.

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What's inside?

Staithes Lost Railway

Learn more about what's inside

Learn more about local history

Learn about the history of the collection

Before you come

If you're planning a visit, these pages may be useful:

From our gift shop

If you missed out on an item from our museum shop, free delivery is available to most of the UK.

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Film: The Stories of Staithes Museum

What is the story behind Staithes Museum? It is a surprisingly complicated question. The museum is housed in the old Primitive Methodist chapel on Church Street, but the story of the museum is much more than the story of a building. It is the story of Anne and Reg Firth, who created the museum; of the people who helped to save it after Reg's death; of generations of Staithes families; and of the objects, photographs, memories and traditions that have found their way into the

“It was like going into a dream”: Anne King remembers growing up around Staithes

What was Staithes like when the village was still a close-knit fishing community, when chapels were packed on Sundays, families knitted and sang together, and the carnival could seem almost magical to a child who had never seen anything like it before? This is the sort of question behind a new oral history project at Staithes Museum, which aims to record the memories of local people: the everyday stories, memorable characters, customs, family traditions and little details tha

The Great Grandfather, the Gamekeeper and the Genealogist’s Nightmare

A family story, a shooting in the woods, a murder trial, a mysterious death – and four years of research in the archives of North Yorkshire One of the pleasures of working with an archive is discovering that the most interesting family history stories are the ones that start and end with questions that are left unanswered... Sometimes you get a photograph, a name, a date and a family story. Then you start pulling at the threads – and discover that the story is simultaneously

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The Staithes Museum