From humble beginnings in 1854 as an Industrial Museum to a
rations centre during the Second World War, the Victorian building
is an iconic and much-loved building.
Industrial beginnings
Opened in 1854 as the Industrial Museum of Scotland, the
building was originally inspired by London’s Crystal Palace.
Designed by visionary engineer Captain Francis Fowke and local
architect Robert Matheson, the building was both beautiful and
technically innovative.
The east wing and one third of the current main hall were opened
by Prince Albert in 1866, by which time it had become the Edinburgh
Museum of Science and Art. Prince Albert was a driving force behind
Britain’s 19th century museum movement and it is significant that
he laid the building’s foundation stone in 1861, his last public
act.
By the time of the building’s jubilee in 1904, the museum had
become the Royal Scottish Museum, and was Scotland’s first national
public building. This significance as a building of historical
importance is reflected today with a Category A listing.
No stranger to change
Since the doors opened to the public in 1866, the museum has
seen many changes in its architecture and its identity. Fowke’s
vision took 30 years to complete, culminating in the opening of the
west wing in 1890. Behind the Chambers Street facade, the museum
has been altered, adapted and extended in response to the growth in
the collections and changing public use.
Perhaps the
most revolutionary change was the installation of electric power in
the early 1900s, replacing the original gas lighting. With
electricity, came the museum’s first interactive displays, a marine
engine and a sectioned locomotive. Those first ‘push button’
displays must have amazed and delighted visitors then as they still
do today!
The redevelopment will continue that tradition of change,
transforming the building into a world-class 21st century museum,
the National Museum of Scotland.
The heart of the museum
The public have always been at the heart of the museum since it
opened. Innovative gas lighting enabled evening openings especially
for working people. Perhaps more dramatically, the original cafe,
known as the Refreshment Room, lost its drinks licence in 1891
after a campaign by temperance reformers!
In Victorian times,
‘conversaziones’ – ‘meetings for conversations’ became a popular
and fashionable way to socialise at the museum. Some
'conversaziones' were so popular, they caused traffic jams of
carriages along the High Street and down as far as the Tron Kirk.
Public notices or ‘broadsides’ had to be issued by the City
Chambers informing of special traffic arrangements.
Today, the public are still very much at the heart of this
transformation. Improved access to galleries, exciting new
exhibitions and dedicated learning facilities will ensure our
collections continue to inspire and delight visitors of all
ages.
Amazing collections
The National Museum of Scotland is one of the few places in the
world to house such significant and diverse collections under one
roof. The museum’s collections have been built up over two
centuries, many gifted by pioneering Scots.
Giving visitors more access to these internationally important
treasures is at the heart of our transformation project.
Find out more
You can discover more about the history
of National Museums Scotland here.