The first museum in Scalloway was opened in 1985 by the Scalloway History Group and ran successfully for 20 years. One of the main topics was the "Shetland Bus" - the nickname for a secret and dangerous operation carried out across the North Sea between the Shetland Islands and occupied Norway during the Second World War.
In 2001, the Shetland Bus Friendship Society (SBFS) was formed to memorialize the 44 men who died in the Shetland Bus operations. The memorial was inaugurated in 2003. Visit The Shetland Bus page for more details about the memorial and the names of the 44 fallen soldiers.
By this time, the original museum had outgrown its old premises on Main Street, so the society initiated a six-year project to finance and establish the current museum in larger premises adjacent to the castle.
The new museum was opened by the Prime Minister of Norway in 2012 and has become a very popular attraction for visitors from all over the world. It is owned by the municipality and operated by SBFS. It is staffed by a knowledgeable and enthusiastic group of volunteers.