National Museum of Scotland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids National Museum of Scotland |
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Scottish History and Archaeology department, opened in 1998 with collections from the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Victorian Venetian Renaissance and modern |
| Town or city | Edinburgh |
| Country | Scotland |
| Coordinates | 55°56′49″N 3°11′24″W / 55.94694°N 3.19000°W |
| Construction started | 1861 |
| Completed | 1866 and 1998 |
| Inaugurated | 1866 |
| Renovated | 2011 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Benson & Forsyth |
| Structural engineer | Anthony Hunt Associates |
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The National Museum of Scotland is a huge and exciting museum in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was created in 2006 when two museums joined together. One museum focused on Scottish antiquities (very old objects), culture, and history. The other, called the Royal Scottish Museum, had amazing collections about science, technology, natural history, and cultures from all over the world.
These two connected buildings stand side-by-side on Chambers Street in central Edinburgh. The museum is part of National Museums Scotland. The best part? Admission is free!
The two buildings look very different. The Museum of Scotland is in a modern building that opened in 1998. The former Royal Museum building is much older, started in 1861 and partly opened in 1866. It has a grand look with a Victorian Venetian Renaissance style. Inside, there's a huge central hall made of cast iron that goes up the full height of the building. This older building had a big makeover and reopened in 2011.
The National Museum has collections from the old National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland. It holds national collections of Scottish archaeological finds and medieval objects. Plus, it has items from around the world. These include geology, archaeology, natural history, science, technology, art, and world cultures. In 2011, 16 new galleries opened with 8,000 objects. Many of these had never been shown before!
One of the most famous exhibits is Dolly the sheep. She was the first mammal successfully cloned from an adult cell. Other cool things to see include Ancient Egyptian exhibits, one of Elton John's fancy suits, and a giant moving sculpture called the Millennium Clock. In 2019, over 2.2 million people visited the museum, making it Scotland's most popular attraction that year.
Contents
Exploring the Museum's Collections
The museum is packed with incredible things to discover! The newer building tells the story of Scottish history. It starts with ancient times on the lowest floor and moves up through different periods. The older Victorian building, which reopened in 2011, has four main areas. These cover natural history, world cultures (like the South Pacific, East Asia, and Ancient Egypt), European art and design, and science & technology.
The Grand Gallery and Discoveries
The main hall, called the Grand Gallery, has many large objects. It features a special display called the "Window on the World." This display rises through four floors, about 20 meters high. It contains over 800 objects that show how many different types of items the museum has. Near the Grand Gallery, you'll find the "Discoveries" gallery. This section highlights objects connected to "remarkable Scots" who were inventors, explorers, and adventurers.
Amazing Artefacts to See
The museum is home to many important and fascinating objects, such as:
- An Assyrian relief of King Ashurnasirpal II. This ancient carving came from a palace in Nimrud.
- The Monymusk Reliquary, a beautiful old container for holy relics.
- The St Ninian's Isle Treasure, a collection of amazing silver objects from the past.
- 11 of the famous Lewis chessmen. These unique chess pieces were found in the Outer Hebrides.
- Beautiful Celtic brooches, including the Hunterston Brooch.
- The Torrs Pony-cap and Horns, an ancient piece of horse equipment.
- Pictish stones, like the Hilton of Cadboll Stone, which are carved stones from an ancient Scottish people.
- Items from the Roman frontier, such as the Cramond Lioness statue and the Newstead Helmet.
- The Whitecleuch Chain, a very old silver chain.
- The Migdale Hoard, a collection of Bronze Age items.
- The Bute mazer, a medieval drinking bowl.
- Sculptures by Sir Eduardo Paolozzi that hold prehistoric jewellery.
- Flags from the Battle of Culloden, including a Union Flag and a Scottish Flag.
- The stuffed remains of Dolly the sheep, the first cloned mammal.
- Paintings by Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh.
- Sculptures by Andy Goldsworthy, inspired by Scottish geology.
Museum Architecture
The museum is made up of two distinct buildings, each with its own special design.
The Royal Museum Building
Construction of the original Royal Museum building began in 1861. It was designed by Captain Francis Fowke, who also designed the Royal Albert Hall in London. The outside of the building looks like a Venetian Italian Renaissance palace. But inside, the main hall, called the Grand Gallery, is bright and open. It was inspired by The Crystal Palace, a famous glass and iron building.
Over the years, the museum added more sections, especially in the 1930s. In 1998, the new Museum of Scotland building opened right next door and was connected inside. The big renovation in 2011 created a new entrance hall at street level. This involved lowering the floor by 1.2 meters. Even though it's a very old and important building, they were able to add modern lifts and escalators.
The Museum of Scotland Building
The design of the newer Museum of Scotland building was quite unique. It uses geometric shapes, inspired by the architect Le Corbusier. However, it also has many features that remind you of Scotland, like brochs (ancient Scottish towers) and castellated (castle-like) walls. The building is covered in golden Moray sandstone. One of its architects, Gordon Benson, called this stone "the oldest exhibit in the building," because it's a part of Scottish geology. This building was nominated for a famous architecture award, the Stirling Prize, in 1999.
Museum History
The story of the museum really began in 1780 with the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. This group collected many old objects. In 1858, their collection was given to the government and became the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland.
In 1861, construction started on the Industrial Museum of Scotland. Prince Albert laid the first stone. In 1866, it was renamed the Edinburgh Museum of Science and Art. The eastern part and the Grand Gallery opened that year. By 1888, the building was finished. In 1904, it became the Royal Scottish Museum.
In 1985, the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland and the Royal Scottish Museum officially joined together. But their collections stayed in separate buildings until 1995. That's when the old Queen Street building closed. It later reopened as the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. In 1998, the new Museum of Scotland building opened next to the Royal Museum, with a connection between them.
A plan to update the Victorian building and connect the two museums even more started in 2004. In 2006, the two museums officially became the National Museum of Scotland. The old Royal Museum building closed for its big renovation in 2008 and reopened in July 2011.
Student Pranks and a Missing Bridge
Long ago, much of the Royal Museum's collection came from the University of Edinburgh. There was even a bridge connecting the museum to the university's Old College building. Students thought the collection was their own, and curators often found exhibits moved or even missing!
The last straw happened in the 1870s. Students were having a party and discovered the museum was also holding a reception for important guests. The museum had stored refreshments in the bridge. When the museum found the refreshments gone, they bricked up the bridge the very next day! It has stayed that way ever since.
The Royal Museum even displayed funny fake exhibits on April Fools' Day sometimes. In 1975, they showed a made-up bird called the "Bare-fronted Hoodwink." The exhibit included blurry photos of birds flying away. To make it seem real, a taxidermist even sewed together a model of the bird using parts from real birds!
Images for kids
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Percy Pilcher's Hawk glider, restored after his fatal crash of 1899, and on display in the Royal Scottish Museum from 1909.
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See also
In Spanish: Museo Nacional de Escocia para niños
