Everything you need to know about visiting the National Museum of Scotland.

Uncover the landscape of L’Éden, a set of 20 rolls of 19th-century scenic wallpaper and discover how this spectacular wallcovering has been conserved by the Museum.

The story of this 100-year-old planetarium provides a fascinating glimpse into the history of science interpretation, as well as a behind-the-scenes peek into early 20th century museum politics.

Celebrate all things cattle at the National Museum of Rural Life.

Join us for a weekend of all things woolly at the National Museum of Rural Life.

The Tibetan Prayer Wheel House offers visitors a tangible experience of a common feature of Tibetan culture.

We work across Scotland to share the national collections, engage with local communities, and provide support for our sector.

On his journey from the West to East Coast of Africa, the explorer David Livingstone collected a variety of geological specimens, which he presented to the National Museum of Scotland.

Discover a rare and beautiful object made by one of Scotland’s most significant female artists.

Scotland Creates volunteer Bethany Lane introduces this distinctive Harris Tweed suit created by iconic fashion designer Vivienne Westwood.

In 2014 Scotland welcomed the Commonwealth Games to Glasgow. Objects from our collection give an insight into the history of the games.

This very important fossil, affectionately known as ‘Lizzie', was discovered in Scotland in the 1980s and could be the earliest known reptile.

The Hilton of Cadboll stone was carved around AD 800 in northern Scotland, then a heartland of the Picts.

Meet a very special Neolithic dog.

Discover more about the Circular Economy through the Making Circles schools project, led by Ostrero.

Today in Scotland, university medical and anatomy teaching relies on people choosing to donate their bodies. There are five universities in Scotland which accept body donations – Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and St Andrews.

Find out more about our range of initiatives to support and welcome autistic visitors.

In 1975, a Bronze Age burial was found in Inverness-shire. Interpreted as an archer, this man and his objects reveal fascinating stories about connections across Britain and Ireland.

Get to know Scottish literary icon Robert Burns through remarkable objects in the collections of National Museums Scotland.

2020 marked the 700th anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath, one of Scotland's most important historical artefacts. Explore the document in detail and listen to our podcast.

Our working farm at the National Museum of Rural Life is home to Ayrshire, Aberdeen Angus and Highland cattle, Tamworth pigs, sheep, hens and Clydesdale horses.

This exhibition at the National War Museum explores the little-known story of British conscientious objectors of the Second World War through paintings, poems, letters, music and speeches.

Information to plan your self-guided group visit to the National Museum of Scotland.

In 1907 the builder William Willett wrote a pamphlet called The Waste of Daylight, campaigning for Daylight Saving in the UK. 9 years later, in 1916, this came into effect in UK law and effectively changed how we experience the passing seasons. Read on to find out more about Daylight Saving is and why Willett wanted it implemented...

As the first cloned mammal ever to be created from an adult cell, Dolly the sheep's birth was of huge excitement both to the scientific world and to the public.

Discover our Ancient Egypt, East Asia and Ceramics galleries.

Our Learning and Engagement Team work to create programmes, tours and resources to engage communities around Scotland with the national collections. Here you'll find more information about recent projects.

Our specimens represent Scotland’s geological history and global mineralogical diversity.

EPISODE 1: Ian Brown ✈️ Assistant Curator of Aviation

EPISODE 4: Donnie McCathie 🤩 Visitor Experience Manager

EPISODE 5: Sophie Goggins 🦠 Senior Curator of Biomedical Science

EPISODE 6: Tiago Metello 🦅 Assistant Curator of Vertebrate Biology

EPISODE 3: Calum Robertson ⚔️ Senior Curator, Modern & Military History

A small display that brought together a range of fossils to explore some of the myths and early uses for fossils.

A unique jar of rock crystal and gold from the Galloway Hoard with a fascinating history – and an intriguing name on it.

The Scottish Sports Hall of Fame celebrates Scotland's sporting heroes and their achievements.

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.

This dashing tartan frock coat may have been worn by Bonnie Prince Charlie during his ill-fated time in Scotland.

Charms were once widely used in Scotland. Often, unusual materials and shapes, or in the case of written charms, quasi-religious wording, gave them their special nature.

Discover a range of paintings, drawings and pastels from the First and Second World Wars from our military collection.

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

In 2022, South Asian community groups supported by Networking Key Services (NKS), visited the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh to view the galleries and interpret objects from the South Asian and Scottish collections through their eyes. These are their reflections.

Join us as we host two weeks of science-fuelled exploration at the National Museum of Scotland, from free interactive exhibits to family workshops and adult talks and events.

In this talk, David Olusoga, one of the three presenters of the BBC's Civilisations series, asks ‘can TV still do that magical thing of bringing people to a place where they believe history and art is for them?’

Whether you enjoy regular visits to our museums, have fond memories of a childhood spent exploring Scotland’s collections or are simply passionate about the power of museums to inspire, a gift in your will, no matter how small or large, will help to preserve Scotland's national collections for generations to come.

In August 1839, Lord Eglinton held a mock-medieval tournament at his estate in North Ayrshire, Scotland. The event was hugely popular, and around 100,000 people attended. Step onto the battlefield and discover some of the objects associated with this flamboyant festival here.