Delve deeper into the stories of Cold War Scotland and explore how the period impacted and influenced Scottish lives, politics, landscapes and technologies.   

The Cold War was a global conflict that began in the wake of the Second World War and ended with the peaceful revolutions of 1989-90 and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.  During this 40-year nuclear stand-off between the USA and the Soviet Union, Scotland’s unique geography and topography provided a useful base for Allied military preparations and research.   

In this spotlight talk Sam Alberti and historian Holger Nehring discuss Scotland’s critical position on the frontline of the Cold War and share the stories of the Scots involved in this global conflict. 

Dr Sam Alberti is Director of Collections at National Museums Scotland. Professor Holger Nehring is Chair in Contemporary European History at the University of Stirling.   

Materialising the Cold War Project

National Museums Scotland and the University of Stirling are leading Materialising the Cold War, a collaborative research project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council which explores how museums exhibit the hopes and fears of the Cold War and considers the relevance of Cold War history and memory today.   

Our Cold War Scotland exhibition will be open to visit before and after this talk. Entry is free.

Accessibility and facilities

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Visit our accessibility page for full access information for the National Museum of Scotland. 

If you have any access requirements, please email us in advance at publicevents@nms.ac.uk.