The History Gallery offers intriguing and revealing themes that explore identity, people and place. The gallery tells the story of mid-Antrim from earliest times to the present day, wrapped in its national and international context.
The use of interactive media brings history to life - as visitors are enticed to step back in time in a sensory experience - while adjoining displays of artefacts are complimented by dramatic images of the local landscape. Together they provide an all-encompassing evocative experience.
The story features historical highlights including the archaeology of prehistoric times and the turbulent medieval period - revealed through fascinating material from the Ulster Museum and the National Museum of Ireland. 'The Distant Past' gallery reflects early human settlement in mid-Antrim and will feature a fascinating range of prehistoric artefacts on loan from Ulster Museum. 'Shifting Frontiers: Mid-Antrim AD 500 - 1500' explores the medieval history of the region through a range of artefacts on loan from the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin.
Other highlights include a model of the Clough Castle in the 1480s and an audio-visual presentation showing how this strategically important site was part of an evolving network of castles in north east Ulster. One of the fascinating items being loaned by the National Museum of Ireland is a medieval dagger found at the site.
The Museum also traces the theme of war and conflict from the seventeenth century to the two World Wars of the twentieth century. The social and industrial history of mid-Antrim also features strongly through a range of personal stories. Many local people will remember the Braid Water Mill and Phoenix Weaving Factory, along with local shops like Morrow's and Simon McCrory's, all of which feature in the new gallery.