Located in West Argyle Street (Ullapool, Highland) the Ullapool Museum and Visitor Centre provides a range of exhibits relate to natural history, social history, emigration and the fishing industry, including two marine aquaria and replicas of a 1960s schoolroom and fish smokehouse. There is also a substantial archive of records, photos and genealogical information for the parish.
Established within a former Telford Parliamentary Church, which has been sensitively restored retaining many original features, the museum provides audio-visual presentations and touch-screen displays.
The church was built in 1829, one of 32 erected by engineer Thomas Telford (1757 - 1834) as part of a parliamentary initiative to provide places of worship throughout the Highlands. Parliament was parsimonious, despite having spent more than £1.5 million across England, it gave only £50,000 to Scotland and the churches had to be built to a standardised design, developed by William Thomson (1783 - 1860). The last service in the church was held in 1935 and the building was little used until 1988, when it was home to an exhibition to commemorate the bicentenary of Ullapool's foundation. The success of this exhibition gave the inspiration for a permanent museum.
