Hackney Museum

Hackney Museum, which opened in 2002, looks at the stories of some of the amazing people who have made their homes here from Saxon times onwards. Hackney's tradition of welcoming newcomers down the ages means that its history encompasses a huge variety of stories. The displays reveal this wealth of international history through fascinating objects, images and interviews.  Stories are brought to life with interviews capturing the experiences of real people which visitors can listen to on handsets situated throughout the display.

Some, like a child's sculpture from Sierra Leone or a propaganda sheet from Nazi Germany, powerfully illustrate the forces that have driven people to leave their homes. Others, like the contents of a Yiddish printing business, show the opportunities people have found here to make a living and start new lives.  Many of the objects in Hackney Museum have been chosen by local people to represent their histories.

But Hackney Museum is about a lot more than objects in glass cases. There are lots of 'hands-on' activities designed to make it a lively and fun place for children to visit. You can have a go at loading a Saxon boat, (a big favourite with toddlers) try on historical costumes, bring spooky ghosts to life and try your hand at making Victorian matchboxes against the clock.

Hackney Museum also has a large temporary exhibition gallery which showcases three or four exhibitions a year. Exhibitions are based upon celebrating local history and are always accompanied by a special events programme. These include drop-in workshops for families, regular adult talks and events and school holiday activities. Our latest project is called Mapping the Change, and is all about collecting the views and objects of local people in the run up to the 2012 Olympics.

Come and explore the world on your doorstep.

For more information on events at the Hackney Museum, please visit their website.