Royal Museum of Scotland

The Royal Museum of Scotland is a large, glass-roofed Neo-Romanesque museum in the old town of Edinburgh, Scotland. It was opened in 1888, and in 2007 merged with the adjoining Museum of Scotland to become the National Museum of Scotland complex. Since 2008, it has been closed, subject to the completion of the Royal Museum Project - a £46 million pound refit, funded jointly by the Scottish Government, the Heritage Lottery Fund and private donations. The museum is expected to reopen in 2011.

It's exhibits - numbering over a million - derive from the fields of geology, archaeology, natural history, science, technology and art. Highlights range from stuffed African elephants to the Millenium Clock, a whale skeleton suspended from the ceiling, thousands of insects and various ancient Egyptian items, including engraved coffins. It was a state-of-the-art facility when first opened, but has since fallen behind the pace and come to urgently require a major refurbishment.

The Royal Museum Project, which began in April 2008, will see the museum brought into the 21st century. Sixteen new galleries will be added, as well as 50% more public spaces and 300% more space for learning. Visitor facilities will be bolstered with a new café and better shop. The main part of the redevelopment will be the opening of new street-level entrances, giving access to a new entry hall, built in the museum's old basement. From there, access to all levels of the museum will be possible via escalators and glass lifts.