About Cold War Scotland
Cold War Scotland explores the stories of Scots at the centre of this global conflict.
The Cold War was a 40-year nuclear stand-off between the USA and the Soviet Union after the Second World War. Scotland’s unique landscape provided a useful base for Allied military preparations and research.
The impact of the war still lingers in Scottish politics, culture and memory. Scots played an active role in the global conflict as soldiers within intelligence services and as part of voluntary civil defences. The exhibition will draw on Scotland’s rich history of Cold War-era protest and activism.
Cold War Scotland is an output of Materialising the Cold War, a collaborative research project between National Museums Scotland and the University of Stirling. The project explores how the Cold War heritage is represented and how museums can adapt to tell this story in future. Materialising the Cold War is funded by a major grant from the Arts and Humanities Research Council.
Exhibition highlights
Exhibition stories
- Discover
Nuclear Scotland during the Cold War
Nuclear power and nuclear weapons dominated the Scottish landscape, and people’s minds, during the Cold War. In 1959, Chapelcross, in Annan in southwest Scotland, became one of the first civil-military nuclear power stations in the world.… - Discover
The Cold War and Scottish society
Cold War ideologies and cultures had a direct impact on Scottish society. Scotland was the site for cultural and political exchange from both sides of the Cold War across the 20th century. Politicians from both sides represented their… - Discover
How Scotland became a Cold War Battleground
After the Second World War, Western and Soviet tension increased over plans for Germany. Western allies looked for collective security, and in April 1949 the North Atlantic Treaty organisation (NATO) was created. Scotland had huge…
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Related events
- Event
Curiosity Club
Sat 14 Sep – Sat 29 Mar 2025, 10:30 - 12:00Our popular Curiosity Club sessions return this season, for inquisitive kids aged 7–11.Updated - Event
Relaxed Curiosity Club
Sat 14 Sep – Sat 29 Mar, 14:30 - 15:30Unleash your inner museum detective and explore our collections through games, activities and an optional gallery visit.Updated - Event
Find Out Fridays
6 Sep – 20 Dec 2024, every Friday afternoon during term time 13:30 – 16:00Taking a different theme and activity each week, our Engagement team will share some of the fascinating facts and surprising stories behind our collections.Free