Inverness Museum and Art Gallery facts for kids

The Inverness Museum and Art Gallery is a super cool place to visit in Inverness, a city in the Highlands of Scotland. It's a museum and an art gallery all in one! The best part? It's completely free to get in. High Life Highland, working with the Highland Council, takes care of all the amazing things you can see there.

The Inverness Museum and Art Gallery building.

Discover the Inverness Museum and Art Gallery

The Inverness Museum and Art Gallery is a fantastic spot to learn about the history and nature of the Scottish Highlands. It's located right in the heart of Inverness, making it easy to visit.

A Look Back: The Museum's History

The very first Inverness Museum opened its doors way back in 1881. It started by collecting items related to the Highlands and the Jacobite period. One of the first big donations was a collection of old paintings of the Stuart family. These were given by the family of Prince Frederick Duleep Singh. He even had a painting of Prince Charles Edward Stuart!

Over time, the museum added more amazing art. You can see beautiful Highland landscapes painted by famous Scottish artists. These include works by Alexander Nasmyth, John Quinton Pringle, and Tom Scott.

Modern Makeovers: Improving the Museum

The area where the museum stands today was rebuilt in 1963. Since then, the museum has had two major updates to make it even better for visitors. In 1982, they added a café, new permanent displays, and special galleries for temporary art shows.

Then, in 2006, the museum closed for six months for a huge £1.3 million makeover! It reopened with a fresh new look just in time for the "Highland 2007" celebrations. These updates help the museum keep its collections exciting and easy to explore.

What You Can Explore Inside

The museum is packed with interesting things to see, spread across two floors. It tells the story of the Highlands, from ancient times to more recent history.

Ground Floor Wonders

When you enter, the ground floor takes you on a journey through Scotland's natural world. You'll find exhibits about Scottish geology, showing how the land was formed. There are also displays on local natural history, featuring animals and plants from the Highlands. You can also discover the archaeology of the Highlands, including cool ancient artifacts like Pictish stones.

First Floor Adventures

Head upstairs to the first floor for a trip through more recent Highland history. Here, you'll find fascinating Jacobite items, like things used by supporters of Bonnie Prince Charlie. You can also see beautiful silver made in Inverness and learn about traditional Highland weapons. Don't forget to check out the display of bagpipes, a very important part of Scottish culture! The first floor also hosts special temporary art exhibitions that change throughout the year.

The Famous Inverness Puma

One of the most unique items in the museum is a stuffed puma! This puma was captured in Inverness-shire in 1980. People believe it was once a pet that someone abandoned. After it was caught, it lived in a wildlife park. When it passed away, it was carefully preserved and given a special place in the museum. It's a real conversation starter!

This Puma was captured in Inverness-shire in 1980. After it died it was stuffed and placed in the Museum.