Museum of Edinburgh facts for kids
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| Former name | Huntly House |
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| Location | 142-146 Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8DD, United Kingdom |
The Museum of Edinburgh is a super interesting place in Edinburgh, Scotland. It used to be called Huntly House Museum. You can find it at 142-146 Canongate. This museum is full of amazing things that tell the story of Edinburgh, from its very beginning to today.
Imagine walking through a maze of history! The museum has many rooms, each showing a different part of the city's past. For example, you can see an original copy of the National Covenant. This important document was signed at Greyfriars Kirk way back in 1638. There's also a cool display showing what Field Marshal Earl Haig's office looked like during the Great War. Many items in this display were given to the museum by him.
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Where is the Museum of Edinburgh located?
The museum is inside a building called Huntly House. This building was built in the late 1500s. It's located right on the Canongate, which is a famous street in Edinburgh. The museum is looked after by the City of Edinburgh Council.
Huntly House is three stories tall and has a unique yellow outside. It's easy to find in the heart of Edinburgh, making it a great spot for both local people and tourists to visit.
How old is Huntly House?
Huntly House was built around 1570. It was first made for important members of a family called Clan Gordon. They lived in a place called Huntly Castle. One famous person who might have lived there was George Gordon, 1st Marquess of Huntly. However, some historians aren't sure if he actually lived in this specific house.
Later, in 1647, a group of metalworkers called the Incorporation of Hammermen bought Huntly House. They used it as their main office. They even made the building bigger with the help of an architect named Robert Mylne.
When did Huntly House become a museum?
In 1924, Huntly House was in danger of being torn down. But the city of Edinburgh stepped in and bought it! That's when it became the Museum of Edinburgh. Even today, many local people still call it Huntly House.
The museum even appeared in Season 3 of the TV show Outlander.
What can you see at the Museum of Edinburgh?
The museum has amazing collections of decorative art. These items show off the incredible skills of Scottish craftspeople from the past. You can see beautiful cut and engraved glass, and fancy silver items made in Edinburgh and Canongate.
There are also old costumes, tall grandfather clocks, and Scottish pottery and porcelain. Some of these items date all the way back to the 1760s!
The Museum of Edinburgh has about 220,000 items across all its locations. Four of its collections are so special that the Scottish government has recognized them for their "National Significance." This means they are very important to Scotland's history.
The museum building itself tells the story of Edinburgh, from its earliest days to the present. You can even see the original plans for Edinburgh's "New Town" drawn by James Craig. These plans show every detail of how the New Town was designed.
See also
External links
- Official website: http://www.edinburghmuseums.org.uk/Venues/Museum-of-Edinburgh
