Situated in Castle Gardens, Castle House Museum is at the heart of the history in Dunoon. Built in 1824 as a holiday home for the Lord Provost of Glasgow, the building has also been used as council offices and the town library over the years. From our windows there are picturesque views of the Gardens, the Victorian Pier, and the Castle Hill flagpole. This marks the spot where the thirteenth century Dunoon Castle once sat, and a small section of the ruin remains.
Our main display area takes visitors on a chronological journey through the town's fascinating past, from the Neolithic period to twentieth century wartime. Key exhibits showcase the history of The Clan Lamont, the life of Robert Burns' sweetheart Highland Mary, and the popularity of Dunoon as a holiday resort from the late nineteenth century onwards. We also have a varied collection of steamer models, as Dunoon was a key destination for those who packed themselves onto these vessels to travel 'doon the watter.'
Our Victorian Rooms are realistic room-set reconstructions which showcase life in the Victorian era: the clocks are ticking and the plants are growing!
Why not take part in our quiz and spot the modern day items we've hidden around each room?
Our cinema room shows a short presentation of pictures of Dunoon and the surrounding areas in the past and compares these to recent times.
With activities for our younger visitors to enjoy and our memorabilia collection to see, why not come along and discover the fascinating history of the area for yourself?
Getting here by Ferry: We are directly opposite Dunoon's CalMac passenger ferry terminal.
Getting here on Foot: You will find us in Castle Gardens.
