National Museums Scotland's mission, vision, aims, priorities, and values along with our strategic plan and national strategy.

What is it like to hold your own brain? John Scott, a Lothian Birth Cohort participant, was lucky enough to find out

The Board is responsible for setting the National Museums Scotland’s strategic direction and for monitoring progress to achieve this. The management team is fully responsible for the day-to-day operation of the National Museums Scotland and for the implementation of strategy.

NMS Enterprises was established in 2002 to facilitate the commercial activities of National Museums Scotland.

See behind the scenes of the work carried out in the museum’s Conservation hangar with these free talks.

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

This exhibition explored the history of anatomical study, from artistic explorations by Leonardo da Vinci to the Burke and Hare murders.

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.

Museums are great places to uncover stories. Build your own story, inspired by our amazing objects.

National Museums Scotland is collecting history as it happens. Our new film series, Collecting the Present, explores objects we have collected recently that document cultural, political and social change in Scotland.

This compound microscope belonged to Charles Peach (1800 - 86), a highly respected naturalist and fossil hunter.

Find out more about the only giant ibis skeleton owned by any museum in the world.

The phrase 'painting the Forth Bridge' has become synonymous with a never-ending task. Discover how this humble paint mixer played its part in the maintenance of one of Scotland's most iconic structures.

Novelist, poet, playwright and historian, Scott was one of the most celebrated writers of his time and his works brought Scotland’s evocative landscapes to public attention across Britain and Europe. Discover his story through objects in the National Collection.

The finely carved oak pulpit from Dun kirk in Angus, dated 1615, has been retrieved by National Museums Scotland prior to the church being sold.

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

Make your own bird spotting Blue Tit buddy with these instructions!

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.

During the 2019-20 school year, National Museums Scotland worked with Ostrero to raise awareness of the Circular Economy.

National Museums Scotland has been awarded a grant by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) with the National Maritime Museum, London to enable organisations around the UK to work with community groups to explore experiences of empire, migration, and life in Britain through their collections.

Our strategic plan sets out National Museums Scotland’s key areas of focus for the next five years.

Especially for us, master builder Warren Elsmore and his team have created a LEGO® Big Build of our very own Concorde.

Explore the National Museum of Flight with your class using our themed trails.

The Director and Executive Team make up the top management tier of National Museums Scotland. The management team is fully responsible for day-to-day operations and for the implementation of strategy.

The Board of Trustees is National Museums Scotland’s governing body. It is responsible for setting the organisation’s strategic direction and for monitoring progress to achieve this.

Travel Trade National Museums Scotland

The South Asian Stories project aimed to explore museum objects through the eyes of the local communities of Bengali, Indian and Pakistani cultural heritage.

From intricate firelighting tools to rocket-powered aircraft and a fire alarm with a difference, our collections feature intriguing links to the element fire.

Investigate different aspects of life on Earth, through fascinating fossils, tools for turning the soil and pieces of art reflecting the devastating effects of pollution on our planet.

Investigate the 'fifth element' through the wonders of digital technology, from early computers to the development of mobile telephones and robot repairs.

Discover how air has been used in modes of transport from airships to hot air balloons and how different species make use of air to travel through flight and gliding.

Our online database contains a selection of the 12 million objects and specimens in our collections.

Kirke Kook explores the meaning behind some of the photographs in the National Museums Scotland collection.

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

Textile designer and artist Bernat Klein put Scottish fashion on the map during the 1960s. Discover his colourful mohairs and tweeds, inspired by the landscape around his Scottish Borders studio.

This evening dress of bright leaf green and red shot silk is by the Maison Lucile Ltd, founded by Lady Duff Gordon, and is on display in our new galleries.

This vintage Avro Anson first flew in 1935, when it represented leading edge technology.