dearth of funds to meet expenses for running a museum. Volunteers pitched in to refurbish the new museum premises for the formal opening held in 1970. In 1993, the museum was officially fully registered with the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council and in 1999 the museum was a recipient of the Museums and Galleries' Gulbenkian Award for "most outstanding achievement" presented by Prince Charles. Today the museum has achieved full accreditation by the MLA. Holdings The museum has over 18,000 holdings related to the history, archaeology and natural history of Alderney. The museum displays exhibit items of social history, military history, the evacuation of the island in 1940 and the subsequent occupation by German troops. Some of the most notable items include plans and drawings of the construction of the Alderney Breakwater, built between 1847 and 1864. The 1852 George S. Reynolds' lithograph is part of the Alderney Breakwater group of documents. Holdings are as diverse as 1940 census papers, cinerary urns, dulcie cups, and curry powder bottles. There are also church and government documents, as well as land and cemetery registers. Materials that document Alderney customs, folk life, genealogy, geology, and the island's natural history are part of the holdings. One of the larger collections pertains to the Elizabethan Wreck, many artefacts from this important discovery are on display in Gallery 2. References External links Interior photo of an Elizabethan Shipwreck display Interior photo Museums in the Channel Islands Organisations based in Alderney Museums established in 1966 School buildings completed in 1790