National Museum of Scotland

Attribution:

Chris_Malcolm

Edinburgh

United Kingdom

Key Dates

It was opened as the Museum of Scotland in 1998. In 2007 it was merged with the adjoining Royal Museum of Scotland to become the National Museum of Scotland.

Key People

There was a squall of controversy surrounding the museum's design - patron Prince Charles even resigned in protest at not being kept up to speed on plans. Its architecture, by Benson & Forsyth, incorporates many Scottish references, such as castellated towers and broch-like battlement features. It is also clad in golden Moray sandstone; which one of the architects, Gordon Benson, described as 'the oldest exhibit in the building.'

The Museum of Scotland, alongside the adjacent Royal Museum, comprises the National Museum of Scotland in the capital city Edinburgh. The museum incorporates collections from the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland, and is dedicated to the history, ethnography and culture of Scotland. Many important relics from the country's past are on display at the museum, such as the Monymusk Reliquary, a Union Flag and Scottish Flag raised at the Battle of Culloden, as well as paintings and sculptures by famous Scots artists such as Eduardo Paolozzi, Margaret MacDonald and Andrew Goldsworthy. However possibly the museum's most famous pieces are ten of the Lewis Chessmen; ivory figurines, probably Nordic in origin, from the 12th century.

Related Structures

The Royal Museum of Scotland.

Royal Museum of Scotland

Admission Fee

Admission Free

Free - Chambers Street Museum

Related Websites

National Museums Scotland

Images