The National Museum of Scotland was formed in 2006 with the merger of the Royal Museum which was built in 1861 and the very modern Museum of Scotland which opened in 1998.
Fashion and Style Exhibit. This gallery presents over 400 years of fashion history.
Brass lectern early 16th century.
Cockcroft Walton voltage multiplier 1950.
Columbian Printing press c1860.
Company of Scotland treasure chest or safe 1695.
Copper spirit still from Glenfiddich Distillery, Dufftown, made about 1963.
Bottle of 50 year old Glenfiddich malt whisky.
Golf clubs and golf balls 1800’s.
Tomb of Mary, Queen of Scots.
The Bute mazer was made soon after the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, where Robert the Bruce led the Scots to victory against the English. A communal drinking cup of the type common in medieval times.
Iron branks and thumbscrews mid 17th century.
Silver cups c1697.
Quality Craftsmanship swords Stirling 1714.
Dolly the Sheep.
Giant deer skeleton 12,300 years old.
Glyptodon -an extinct giant armadillo.
Skull and jawbones of an adult male sperm whale.
Amethyst geode
Peridotite in basalt
Orbicular granodiorite
Amethyst geode
Hematite giant specimen
Suit in Ross tartan 1822.
Brasserie lunch. Delicious herring and salmon platter with soup.
Memorial brass by James Gray 1563
Newes from Scotland, a contemporary pamphlet dealing with the North Berwick witch trials. This woodcut depicts alleged events of 1590-91, including the king’s ship passing through stormy waters, the school master recording the Devil’s commands, and a pedlar lying in a merchant’s cellar in France, to which he was spirited on discovering the witches.
Views from the museum rooftop.
Lady Grisell Baillie and Sheriff Donald Macleod.
Mechanical clock tower Glasgow 1999.
The Maiden, used for beheading criminals, 1564-1710. It was acquired by the museum in 1797, at the time when in France the Revolution, with the use of the guillotine, was at its height.
The Beetling Engine. Water-powered beetling machine from Baluniefield Bleachworks, near Dundee. This machine was in use at Arbroath and Kirkcaldy before being installed at Baluniefield in about 1948.
Beetling takes its name from the heavy wooden hammers which were used to beat linen cloth stretched over a smooth flat stone outside the weaver’s cottage, giving it a sheen and smoothness which made it easier to sell.
Sedan chair used by Alexander Hamilton, 1739-1802, and his son James Hamilton, died 1839, professors of obstetrics at the University of Edinburgh. James was succeeded by J.Y. Simpson, the pioneer of the use of chloroform as an anaesthetic, who gave the chair to the museum.
Arthur’s Seat coffins. Seventeen miniature coffins were found in 1836 on Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh, each containing a clothed figure.
Anchor chain links from Mauretania 1906.
Advertisement for Anchor Line Steamers. Faster journey times and the development of railways increased emigration rates in the second half of the 19th century.
John Muir (1838-1914) was born in Dunbar, East Lothian. In 1849 he emigrated with his family to a farm in Wisconsin.
James Watt by Sir Francis Chantrey in Marble 1827-1832.
Jacquard loom c1900.
Chief of Police and his wife Egypt c1323-1279BC.
Bead net shroud c332-30 BC and Mummy case footboard c780-750 BC
The Tomb Ancient Egyptian Burial exhibit.
Thunderbird Transformation mask and outfit 1999.
Dancing Skeletons c1919.
For Muslin soldiers, armour decorated with words from the Qur’an gave spiritual protection in battle. This armour from Iran is a rich expression of that tradition. The steel is inlaid with gold using quotations taken from the Qur’an such as “Help from Allah and imminent victory”. The separate pieces were made by four different craftsmen at different times, but were acquired by the Museum as a single set in 1890. Iran 17th to 19th century
The National Museum of Scotland
Opening times
Daily: 10:00-17:00 Christmas Day: Closed Boxing Day: 12:00-17:00 New Year's Day: 12:00-17:00
Admission
Free, donations welcome