1. Mary, Queen of Scots
Tragic and romantic, the legend of Mary, Queen of Scots,
continues to intrigue and inspire. In the Kingdom of the Scots
gallery, you can get closer to the famous queen through jewellery,
coins and medals associated with her, and come face to face with a
replica of her tomb, the original of which lies in Westminster
Abbey in London.
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2. Bonnie Prince Charlie
Prince Charles Edward Stewart – better known as Bonnie Prince
Charlie – was the grandson of James VII of Scotland and II of
England, the last Stewart king, deposed in 1689. The Prince's
attempts to reclaim the throne ended bitterly at the Battle of
Culloden in 1746, but his legend lives on in story and song.
The Scotland Transformed gallery tells the tale of the Jacobite
cause, and displays many interesting objects related to the famous
Prince, including a targe, or shield, presented to him by the
3rd Duke of Perth, and a lavish silver travelling
canteen, which may have been a 21st birthday
present.
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3. Robert Burns
The poetry of Robert Burns (1756-1796) is known and loved around
the world. Born into a farming family in Alloway, near Ayr, his
first volume of poetry, published in 1786, became an instant
success. Combining lyricism, cynicism, satire, comedy and political
comment, his unique voice has influenced generations of artists
ever since.
The man known as ‘Scotland’s National Poet’ is celebrated in the
Innovators display, part of the Industry and Empire gallery on
Level 5 of the Museum. Here you’ll find letters, songs, memorabilia
and even a pane of glass scratched with the Bard’s signature. But
can you find his updated portrait in the Scotland: A Changing
Nation gallery?
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4. Oor Wullie
With his spiky hair, mischievous grin and upturned bucket, this
cheeky Scots chappie has been entertaining readers of the Sunday
Post since 1936. And you can meet him in the Scotland: A Changing
Nation gallery at the top of the Museum, in the form of a figure
made by Italian prisoner of war Eugenio Castro during the 1940s.
Crivens!
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5. Dolly the sheep
Dolly hit the headlines as the world’s first mammal to be cloned
from an adult cell. Born on 5 July 1996, she came into National
Museums Scotland’s collections following her death on Valentine’s
Day in 2003. Dolly was named after the country and western singer
Dolly Parton because she was cloned from a mammary cell.
You can find her in the Connect gallery, where she represents an
outstanding example of Scotland’s achievements in science and
technology.
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