The People's Story Museum facts for kids
The museum is housed in the Canongate Tolbooth.
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| Established | 1989 |
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| Location | Canongate Tolbooth, Royal Mile, Edinburgh |
The People's Story Museum is a special place in Edinburgh, Scotland. It's found inside the old Canongate Tolbooth building. This museum tells the amazing stories of everyday people who lived and worked in Edinburgh from the late 1700s until now. It uses things like recorded interviews, memories, and old writings to show what life was like for them.
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What You Can See
The museum has many interesting items. It holds Britain's biggest collection of old flags and banners that were used to ask for changes. There are 144 of these banners in total!
Flags and Banners
These banners show support for different causes. Some were used to push for political reform, which means making changes to how the country is run. Others belonged to trade unions, which are groups of workers who join together to improve their jobs and pay. You can also see banners from the anti-apartheid movement, which fought against unfair racial separation in South Africa.
Waxworks and Stories
The museum also has lifelike wax figures. These figures help to show the written stories of Edinburgh's people in a very real way. They bring history to life!
Exploring the Galleries
The museum has three main display areas, called galleries. There is also a room where you can watch films.
Life in the 18th Century
The first gallery takes you back to the 1700s. It shows what life was like in tenement houses during that time. Tenement houses were large buildings divided into many separate homes for different families.
Stories from the 20th Century
The second gallery displays many of the museum's banners. It also shares the stories of Edinburgh citizens from the 1900s. You can see these stories through the wax figures and written histories.
Edinburgh in Recent Times
The last galleries show what Edinburgh was like in the middle to late 1900s. This helps you understand how the city and its people have changed over time.
Film Screening Room
In the film room, you can watch personal stories from four people who grew up in Edinburgh. They talk about their lives and their jobs. Some worked in printing, some in building, one in a co-op store, and another as a servant. These films give you a real look into their experiences.
