McLean Museum facts for kids
McLean Museum's north elevation
|
|
| Established | 1876 |
|---|---|
| Location | Greenock, Scotland |
| Architect | Alexander Adamson |
| Owner | Inverclyde Council |
The Watt Institution, also known as the McLean Museum and Art Gallery, is a cool place to visit in Greenock, Inverclyde, Scotland. It's the main museum in the area and it's completely free to enter! It first opened its doors way back in 1876. You can see amazing things here, like items connected to James Watt, a famous inventor born in Greenock. There's even an ancient Egyptian Mummy Cartonnage and a fantastic collection of British and Scottish art. You'll find the main entrance on Kelly Street. The Watt Institution now includes the Art Gallery, Watt Hall, Watt Library, and Inverclyde Archives.
Contents
The Museum's Story
The museum started a long time ago, in 1816. It began as a collection of interesting objects owned by the Greenock Philosophical Society. These items were first kept in the Greenock library.
Later, when the library moved to the Watt Library, more items were added. These included old letters, maps, pictures, coins, medals, and even armor. The Society asked local ship owners for donations to help the museum grow.
In 1863, work began on a new building. This building would have a lecture hall and a museum. A local timber merchant named James McLean (1802–1877) 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 grand opening. He still managed to visit and see the museum's contents before he passed away in January of the next year. Thomas Struthers, a geologist from Glasgow, became the museum's first curator.
In its early days, 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 museum has many different collections and exhibitions. You can explore a wide range of fascinating objects.
Ancient Egypt and Archaeology
The museum has a special Egyptology collection. Many items came from the Egypt Exploration Society until 1914. These include a Mummy Cartonnage from Herakleopolis Magna. You can also see a temple stone from the Great Temple of Bast at Bubastis.
There's also an Archaeology collection. It features finds like Roman ceramic pieces. You can also see very old Palaeolithic flint tools from Kent and stone axes from Ireland.
The James Watt Collection
A very important part of the museum is dedicated to James Watt. He was a famous inventor born in Greenock. This collection includes his plans and letters. You can also see tools he used and pictures of him. These pictures are in the form of paintings, sculptures, and books.
Local History and Art
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 too. Plus, there are exhibitions of Scottish and British artwork.
Some items from the collection are even available to view online!
Planning Your Visit
In 2016, the McLean Museum and Watt Library closed for a big renovation. Inverclyde Council spent £1.8 million on the work. Historic Environment Scotland also gave a grant of £287,000.
As part of this update, 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.
The Watt Institution is open from Wednesdays to Saturdays. You can visit between 10am and 4pm. Remember, admission is free! There isn't a big parking lot, but you might find parking on the nearby streets. The museum is a short walk from Greenock West railway station. It's also close to Greenock town centre.
You can even 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 cool replicas. Free internet access is available too.
See also
- Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company
- List of Category A listed buildings in Inverclyde
- List of listed buildings in Greenock
