This touring display of a unique sword and targe from the collections of National Museums Scotland visited Perth Museum and Art Gallery and Inverness Museum and Art Gallery.

Make the most of your visit with our museum highlights. Your rural adventure starts here!

Seasonal news and updates from our historic working farm at the National Museum of Rural Life.

When medieval buildings in Blyth’s Close off Edinburgh’s Castlehill were demolished, these pieces - associated with Mary of Guise - were rescued.

Use these seven yoga based poses to move, stretch and get energised, inspired by our collections. You can do each one on its own or all seven together in a 'yoga flow'.

Curator Fiona Ware and Dr Dan Harries from Heriot-Watt’s Institute of Life & Earth Sciences introduce some of Scotland’s finest marine habitats and discuss the importance of the museum’s specimen collections to monitoring changes in our seas.

In 1908, an undisturbed ancient Egyptian burial was discovered by Flinders Petrie in Qurna Thebes.

Discover how this stunning, detailed wall hanging was brought back to life by our Textile Conservation team.

Our Natural Sciences collections cover both life sciences and earth sciences.

We care for museum collections of national and international importance, presenting and interpreting them for a broad audience. Discover the diversity of all we do here.

Members receive free access to the National Museum of Rural Life and special events throughout the year, and generous discounts in our shop and café.

Explore the highlights of the historic airfield with this new family trail.

Explore how missionaries made a significant impact on gathering the materials featured within the Tibetan collections at the National Museum of Scotland, with their materials peaking between 1890-1904.

Explore a range of activities suitable for pupils working at Early, First and Second Levels including: - Mandarin - Writing a story - Maths and numeracy

Take a look inside one of the most treasured objects in the National Museum of Scotland.

Sir James Black was one of the greatest Scottish scientists of the modern era. His work in medicine and pharmacology has improved the quality of life for millions of people around the world.

Famous Scots, Life and Death, literacy and more!

The Research Library is our main reading room on level 3 of the National Museum of Scotland.

From November 2019 we will begin consultation on our next National Programme (2021 - 2025). We would very much like to hear from colleagues, partners and funders on what National Museums Scotland's future work across Scotland should focus on.

The Making Circles schools project invited children to be inspired by National Museums Scotland’s collections to create new Circular Economy products.

The Scottish History and Archaeology Department at the National Museum of Scotland is a leading player in the field of post-excavation analysis of finds.

Discover more about the Tibetan project, in collaboration between the University of Stirling, Department of Languages, Cultures and Religions, and the National Museum of Scotland, Department of World Cultures.

Discover how the skull of a 40ft whale, which captured the heart of the nation, has become a permanent feature at the National Museum of Scotland.

Volunteering with National Museums Scotland can be hugely rewarding. But don't take our word for it, here's what some of our volunteers say about their time with us.

With the opening in February 2019 of three new galleries at the National Museum of Scotland, we celebrated the completion of the transformation of our much-loved Victorian building.

This exhibition explored how life on earth moved from water onto land 360-345 million years ago.

Behind this frightening-looking mask, worn as a disguise by the outlawed Covenanting minister Alexander Peden, lies a fascinating story of rebellion and religious conviction.

With the introduction of rationing, the threat of air raids, and the loss of so many workers through conscription, daily life looked and felt very different for people at home in Scotland during the Second World War.

On 31 October 2014, Dr Chris Lee presented Margaret’s Wardrobe at the National Museum of Scotland, as part of Luminate: Scotland’s Festival of Creative Ageing. This illustrated talk showed how personal collections can help preserve self-identity, and how our museum collections continue to stimulate memories and discussion.

Visitors discovered the diversity of life in Scotland’s seas and the many threats facing our marine life.

The National Museum of Scotland received £16,400 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to work with young people from the Scottish Sikh community.

Resources and ideas to support wellbeing

Only 89 Twin Pioneers were ever built – and you can see one in the National Museum of Flight.

We’ve teamed up with upcycling experts Ostrero and artist Bryony Knox to create a design for a cool owl badge – made form a fizzy drinks can! Try it out today.

Outer Space, engineering, Life sciences, architecture and more.

We have a range of initiatives to support and welcome pupils with additional support needs to the National Museum of Scotland.

Designed by Kate Whiteford, the title of the work refers to the notorious whirlpool to the north of the island of Jura and draws on the artists's fascination with signs and symbols of ancient civilisations.

With a diverse range of events spaces and idyllic grounds, the museum is an ideal location for corporate or private events.

This bold and engaging sculpture is a mixed media piece made from recycled found objects.

This collaborative research partnership with the National Army Museum reappraises motivations for military collecting. It investigates cultures of collecting by members of the British armed forces while on campaign and garrison duty in Africa and India during the late 18th and 19th centuries.

Investigate the Pacific material in Perth.

Among the museum's collection in storage are a group of Thai ceramics excavated at Sawankhalok.

The image library of National Museums Scotland comprises a vast wealth of material from our museums. Images from National Museums Scotland are available from the image library for reproduction in publications, film, television and other media.

Explore the story of Waterloo at the National War Museum.

See the world's first delta winged bomber on display at National Museum of Flight, East Fortune Airfield.

Find out how this revolutionary telescope was invented, and how it found a home at the National Museum of Scotland.

Give memories that last a lifetime, give the gift of Membership.

Discover how an extra-terrestrial exhibit was made ready for display in the National Museum of Scotland.

We trace the story of the Australian mammals in the Natural World galleries at the National Museum of Scotland and meet the rare numbat.