North Lanarkshire Heritage Centre facts for kids
The North Lanarkshire Heritage Centre is a cool place near the town of Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It has a special "four-star" rating, which means it's a really good heritage centre! This centre is like a big storage place for old papers and records from all over North Lanarkshire.
Contents
History of the Centre
The centre first opened its doors in 1996. Back then, it was known as the Motherwell Heritage Centre. In April 2012, all the old records and new documents from Cumbernauld were moved here. Because it now held records for the whole area, its name changed to North Lanarkshire Heritage Centre. A year later, in April 2013, a group called CultureNL took over running the centre from the local council.
What You Can See and Do
The centre has many interesting things to explore.
Past Life Exhibits
There used to be a special area called Technopolis. Here, you could feel like you were part of Lanarkshire's past. It showed how people lived and worked, especially in heavy industry and steel making. You could even see talking figures and interactive displays that brought history to life! However, this part of the centre closed in 2011. It is now used to store important paper archives.
Art and History Gallery
On the ground floor, there is a gallery room. This room often shows exciting exhibitions from North Lanarkshire Council. Sometimes, you can even see exhibitions from other parts of the world! The displays change regularly, so there's always something new to discover.
Family Research Room
If you're curious about your family's history, this is the place to go! The local studies and family research room has computers and special machines called Microfilm readers. You can use them to look through old local records and personal documents. Many people use this room to find out about their family members or what jobs people used to have.
Viewing Tower
Don't miss the viewing tower on the fifth floor! From up high, you get an amazing view of the Clyde Valley region. You can also see the Campsie Fells and even mountains like Tinto Hill. On a clear, sunny day, you might even spot Ben Lomond far away!
Gift Shop and Accessibility
The centre also has a gift shop. You can find books about local history there. They also sell fun items like postcards, toys, and sweets, just like a museum shop. The centre is easy to get around for everyone. There are lifts inside, making it wheelchair accessible.
