Our Scotland galleries guide you from the Palaeolithic era to the present day, from the earliest cultures to space age science, prehistory to pop culture.

This 14th-century great helm belonged to one of King Edward III's knights, Sir Richard Pembridge, who fought in the Hundred Years' War between England and France.

How can you travel around the world without leaving Scotland? By visiting our World Cultures galleries.

Our panel of artists and museum curators discuss the urgency of the climate and biodiversity crisis, the research and technology being used to tackle it and how art can help communicate this critical message and inspire change.

Possibly the oldest in the world, this pitch drop demonstration is also one of the slowest science experiments ever created

These rare Jacobite and British military colours were carried into battle at Culloden by opposing sides.

1914 brought war to Scotland on what would prove to be an unprecedented scale. Delve into the stories behind those who fought in the First World War here.

National Museums Scotland’s ancient Egyptian coffin collection remains largely unknown and has many exceptional items.

The Roman army was drawn from many corners of the vast Roman Empire

Learn how museums and zoos are helping to conserve endangered species through CryoArks – the UK’s national bank of frozen animal material.

Join the battle against five tropical diseases and the parasites that cause them in this interactive exhibition and discover how scientific research taking place in Scotland is leading the way in this field.

Between 1925 and 1935 a fascinating collection of objects and glass lantern slides were donated to the Museum from Sri Lanka.

Communications, transport, industry, engineering, energy and medicine: how have scientific and technological inventions changed our lives?

Learn more about what’s changed to help you plan your visit.

This thought-provoking display charts the history and influence of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition across the world, including its role in Scotland today.

Calling all inquisitive kids aged 7 -11! Our popular Curiosity Clubs are back for more adventure, discovery and fun.

Exciting, hands-on sensory play sessions for children with additional support needs.

Our press office handles UK and international media requests for the four national museums and our collection centre.

Three dramatic barkcloth masks offer an insight into the traditional beliefs and celebrations of the Elema people from the Gulf of Papua, Papua New Guinea, at the turn of the 20th century.

Alexander Henry Rhind (1833–1863) was the first archaeologist to conduct systematic excavations in Egypt in the 1850s.

In 1971, over 300 beautiful scent bottles were donated to National Museums Scotland. The scent bottles were collected by Ida Pappenheim. Discover the story behind this charming collection.

An incredible array of Egyptian objects can be found in museums across Scotland, from tiny amulets to massive stone monuments. National Museums Scotland and museums across the country are studying these artefacts together to improve our understanding of ancient Egyptian culture and Scotland’s contribution to Egyptology.

Join us for our monthly Relaxed Morning for anyone who would appreciate a calmer visit to the museum.

The island-hopping Britten-Norman Islander is one of the most versatile aircraft ever built.

Join us on the Magic Carpet as we explore the museum through interactive songs, rhymes and sensory play.

Get all the answers you need to make the most of your visit with your family.

Come and see the 90ft long inflatable sculpture with your own eyes!

From delicately-carved porcelain to bold statement jewellery, discover how contemporary Japanese artists are challenging preconceptions and using traditional Japanese materials and techniques in new and innovative ways.

On the 250th anniversary of Sir Walter Scott's birth, experience his novels through objects that inspired him.

Discover unexplored stories in our LGBTQIA+ Hidden Histories audio trail.

Families can pick up our new trail to explore the galleries through the wonder of maths.

Be inspired by our staff favourites from our collections on display on Level 1, or try and find them all on your next visit.

Exploring Scotland’s critical position on the frontline of the Cold War, this new exhibition will tell the stories of the Scots at the centre of this global conflict.

Find out about our collection of aero-engines and propellers on a curator-led tour of our Object Store.

Professor Matthew Forster Heddle (1828-1897) was Scotland's most famous mineralogist. At National Museums Scotland, we look after 5,700 specimens from his collection.

Built in a dedicated model-making workshop during the late 1870s, this working model is a scale version of the famed Corliss steam engine.

The National Museum of Scotland in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town offers the most stunning setting for memorable events.

Sue Jane Taylor has spent over thirty years recording the lives of workers in the North Sea oil and gas industry. These pages are a selection of Sue Jane Taylor's work that were on display in the Age of Oil exhibition (21 Jul - 5 Nov 2017), at the National Museum of Scotland.

This Boulton & Watt engine was the first full-sized engine acquired for the collections and is one of the oldest surviving beam engines in the world.

Our mission is to preserve, interpret and make accessible for all, the past and present of Scotland, other nations and cultures, and the natural world.

On 3 December 1917, a little after 13:00, a large fireball was seen to cross southern Scotland. A short time later, an explosion was heard and four objects were seen or heard to crash to the ground around the towns of Coupar Angus and Blairgowrie in the Strathmore area of central Scotland.

Phosphorus, one of the elements in Apatite, is used to make chips and microprocessors in mobile phones.

Bismuth is used in the wires and connectors of mobile phones.