McLean Museum facts for kids
McLean Museum's north elevation
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| Established | 1876 |
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| Architect | Alexander Adamson |
| Owner | Inverclyde Council |
The Watt Institution, also known as the McLean Museum and Art Gallery, is an exciting museum and art gallery in Greenock, Inverclyde, Scotland. It's the main museum for the Inverclyde area and first opened its doors way back in 1876.
You can find amazing things here, like items connected to James Watt, a famous inventor born in Greenock. There's also an ancient Egyptian mummy Cartonnage and a great collection of British and Scottish art. The main entrance is on Kelly Street in the Greenock West area. Today, the Watt Institution includes the Art Gallery, Watt Hall, Watt Library, and Inverclyde Archives.
Contents
A Look Back: The Museum's Story
The museum started thanks to the Greenock Philosophical Society. They had a growing collection of interesting objects and natural items. This collection became a museum in 1816, located in the Greenock library.
When the library moved to the Watt Library, the Society added more items. These included old letters, maps, prints, coins, medals, and even armor. They asked local ship owners and captains for donations to help the museum grow.
In 1863, work began on a new building for lectures and the museum. A local timber merchant named James McLean paid for it. He was also a member of the Philosophical Society. The new building was finished by November 3, 1876. Sadly, James McLean was too unwell to attend the opening. He still visited the museum before he passed away in January the next year.
The museum's first curator was Thomas Struthers. He was a geologist and naturalist from Glasgow. In its early years, the museum borrowed items from other big museums. These included the Albert Museum and the National Gallery. In return, the Watt Institution would lend parts of its collection for their exhibitions.
What You Can See: Amazing Collections
The Watt Institution has many different collections and exhibitions. You can explore a wide range of topics and historical periods.
Ancient Egypt
Until 1914, the museum received donations from the Egypt Exploration Society. This brought many items for its Egyptology collection. You can see a mummy Cartonnage from Herakleopolis Magna. There's also a temple stone from the Great Temple of Bast at Bubastis.
Digging Up the Past: Archaeology
The museum also has an Archaeology collection. This includes various finds from different times. You can see Roman ceramic pieces. There are also old flint tools from Kent and stone axes from Ireland.
The Genius of James Watt
A special part of the museum is dedicated to James Watt. This collection includes his plans and letters. You can also see tools he used. There are paintings, sculptures, prints, and books about him too.
Local History and More
The museum also tells the story of Inverclyde. There's a Maritime Transport collection about ships and the sea. You can learn about social history and see exhibitions of Scottish and British artwork. Some items from the collection can even be viewed online!
Planning Your Visit
In 2016, Inverclyde Council closed the museum and Watt Library. They did this for a big £2 million renovation. The Council invested £1.8 million, and Historic Environment Scotland gave a £287,000 grant. As part of this work, the gallery, museum, lecture hall, and library were all renamed the Watt Institution. Now, you can enter the library through the museum entrance on Kelly Street.
The complex re-opened to visitors on November 22, 2019.
Opening Hours and Admission
The Watt Institution is open from Wednesdays to Saturdays. You can visit between 10 AM and 4 PM. The best part is that admission is completely free!
Getting There
There isn't a large parking area just for the museum. However, you can usually find parking on the streets nearby. The museum is a short walk from Greenock West railway station. It's also close to Greenock town centre.
Tours and Shop
You can get free tours from the museum's staff. Just make sure to book your tour in advance! There's also a shop where you can buy books, cards, toys, and unique craft items. You can even find museum-quality replicas. Free internet access is available for visitors too.
