Our Museum…..

Come and visit the ‘Jewel’ in the crown of the World Heritage UNESCO Jurassic Coast, The Etches Collection Museum of Jurassic Marine Life situated in the village of Kimmeridge, Dorset.

Housing the finest single collection of Late Jurassic age fossils, you will be mesmerized by sea monsters, prehistoric predators and the marine flora and fauna of 152-157 million years ago when the Jurassic Coast of Dorset was but a shallow, tropical sea. Nearly all of the fossils in the collection were found by Steve in the Kimmeridge Bay locality, from the world famous oil rich Kimmeridge Clay, within 2 miles of where the Museum is located. Some of the fossils were generously donated to the Museum including Britney, our Ichthyosaur ‘sea dragon’ (by Philip Jacobs) and of course the Pliosaur skull as featured on the BBC programme ‘Attenborough and The Giant Sea Monster’ (Philip discovered the snout).

Learn about our Stories from Deep Time - life & death in the Kimmeridgian seas during the time of the Dinosaurs interpreted with state of the art CGI imagery of Jurassic marine life swimming above the amazing fossils in the museum gallery.

Watch as Steve Etches cleans and conserves his latest finds in the museum lab and workshop - our collection of world class fossils include many which are new to science and of national importance.

The museum features:-

• Exhibition fossil gallery with CGI imagery and interactives

• State of the art workshop, lab and reserve fossil collection

• Wolfson Discovery room with geological and palaeontological interactive displays and information, library, archaeological display on Kimmeridge’s human history

• Microscope and fossil handling collection and activities*

• Interactive iPads with PalaeoGo App and QR Code Scanner to unlock the video stories around the museum (ask for these at our Front of House desk)

• Shop featuring unique gifts, jewellery, branded merchandise, rare fossils and minerals for sale, Jurassic and dinosaur themed goods

• Clore room village hall that often hosts pop up exhibitions and events. This space is available for hire

• Refreshments

• Fully accessible, carbon neutral, modern museum building

  *During school visits the Clore Room in which these activities are held may be closed, please see Front of House and they will be pleased to provide activities. It is also useful to call in advance to see if we have any visiting schools if you may be concerned this will impact your visit.

Our Awards and Affiliations

• Arts Council Accredited Museum

• Arts Council Designated Outstanding Collection

• Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023

• Member of The Dinosaur Society

• Peoples Project Award 2017 - Dorset Best Village Halls

• CABE (Chartered Association of Building Engineers) New Build Award 2017

• COVID Approved & ‘Good to Go’