National War Museum facts for kids
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The National War Museum is a super interesting place! It's a museum all about wars and how Scotland was involved. You can find it right inside the famous Edinburgh Castle in Edinburgh, Scotland.
This museum opened its doors in 1933. It used to be an old building where military supplies were kept. Today, it's managed by National Museums Scotland. The museum shows you 400 years of Scotland's history in wars, from the 1600s onwards.
Before it got its current name, it was called the Scottish United Services Museum. Even before that, it was known as the Scottish Naval and Military Museum.
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Where to Find the Museum
The National War Museum is located within Edinburgh Castle. It's in an area of the castle called Hospital Square. This part of Edinburgh is known as the Old Town.
The museum building itself is quite old and important. It has been officially listed as a "category-B" building since 1970. It has two floors and is managed by National Museums Scotland. When you pay to enter Edinburgh Castle, your ticket also includes entry to the museum!
What You Can See Inside
The museum has a huge collection of items used by Scotland's armed forces. These items cover many centuries of history. You can see cool things like broadswords, which are special swords from the Scottish Highlands.
They also have gear that protected soldiers from chemical warfare. You can even read real letters sent home from soldiers fighting in battles. The museum also has an art gallery. Here, you can see famous paintings like The Thin Red Line by Robert Gibb. There's also a library for research.
How the Museum Started
During World War I, many people thought it would be a good idea to create museums about warfare. They believed these museums should be local, focusing on different regions.
In 1917, Alexander Ormiston Curle started planning for a Scottish museum. He was the curator of the National Museum of Scotland. He got advice from organizers in London and a special committee in Edinburgh. John Stewart-Murray, 8th Duke of Atholl, also strongly supported the idea.
This committee worked hard in 1918 and 1919. They planned what the museum would look like and how to get items for its collection. However, after the war ended, building the Scottish National War Memorial became the top priority. This memorial opened in 1927, and the museum project was put on hold.
The Museum Opens Its Doors
The idea for the museum came back to life in the late 1920s. The Duke of Atholl helped make it happen. They decided to use an old building inside Edinburgh Castle. This building was built in 1748 by William Skinner. It was originally used to store military supplies.
Building the museum took more than three years. Finally, on May 23, 1933, the museum officially opened. John Buchan, a very important person at the time, opened it. It was first named the Scottish Naval and Military Museum.
Changes Over Time
In 1949, the museum changed its name to the United Services Museum. This was to recognize the important role of the Air Force in World War II.
The museum got a big makeover in 2000. When it reopened, it was given its current name: the National War Museum.
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