The Highlanders’ Museum at Fort George has won another stripe, retaining full accreditation by the national governing body, Museums Galleries Scotland.
The honour is a measure of the management of a collection along with its information and services.
Rewards for such accreditation can include the potential for significant funding.
Museum director John Bailey said: “Staff have worked extremely hard since the reopening of the museum to ensure we not only meet the standards required to maintain our accreditation status but to exceed them, making a first class attraction for visitors.
“Our award means our community can be assured that we are committed to safeguarding the collection, our heritage and responding to visitor expectations.”
Accreditation status is reviewed by Museums Galleries Scotland every three years.
The Highlanders’ Museum (Queen’s Own Highlanders Collection) tells the story of the Highlanders’ for the last 235 years until the present day.
It is home to the largest regimental collection outside London and attracts more than 55,000 visitors per year.
Fort George is widely regarded as one of Britain’s finest examples of 18th century military engineering.
Named after George II, construction began in the aftermath of the Battle of Culloden and took more than 20 years to complete.
It held two field battalions and staff officers – some 2,000 men – and an armament of more than 80 guns.
Fort George is a registered ancient monument and, for the last 235 years, has been a military garrison and training depot for a Regular Infantry Battalion of the British Army. It is currently home to the 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland.
The site is cared for by Historic Scotland and plays host to more than 60,000 visitors per year.
The museum has undergone a two-year, £2.5million refurbishment backed by film star Hugh Grant whose grandfather, Invernessian Colonel James Murray Grant, commanded the regimental depot at Fort George for many years.