The museum collection includes technical equipment relating to lighthouse illumination, navigation, and way making.

As well as personal effects and small items that belonged to individual lightkeepers, including uniforms and hand-made model ships.

[4] The original light at Kinnaird Head Lighthouse was established by Thomas Smith on 1 December 1787.

Kinnaird Head was the most powerful light of its time, and contained 17 reflectors arranged in 3 horizontal tiers.

The first lighthouse keeper was James Park, who was paid a shilling per night and remained in the job for nearly a decade.

In 1851 Robert's son, Alan Stevenson, installed a first order dioptric lens at Kinnaird Head.