Join Galloway Hoard researcher Dr Adrián Maldonado as he reacts to depictions of the Viking Age in movies, TV and video games.

Discover how objects in the museum’s collections can help us explore Scotland’s involvement in the Atlantic slave trade and the abolitionist movement.

Visitors to the Scotland Transformed gallery at National Museum of Scotland cannot miss the mighty Newcomen engine.

This toolkit was created in partnership with museums across Scotland to explore ways to measure and articulate the social impact of engagement with autistic children, their families and young people.

Bring the Curriculum for Excellence to life with the help of the national collections.

Delve into the diverse collection of pioneering ethnomusicologist Jean Jenkins.

Florence Mellor worked as a volunteer nurse treating wounded troops.

This 14th-century great helm belonged to one of King Edward III's knights, Sir Richard Pembridge, who fought in the Hundred Years' War between England and France.

Meet Cybraphon, the moody autonomous robot band in a box created by Edinburgh-based artist collective FOUND.

The Lewis chess pieces live in the National Museum of Scotland. Colour them in or cut out and make your own chess piece here.

These four unique instruments were specially created for Performance and Lives gallery at the National Museum of Scotland by internationally renowned composer and artist Victor Gama.

Download our family trail to help you plan a structured visit to the National Museum of Scotland.

Legacies of Empire examines the histories connected to objects brought back from colonial conflict by the military forces of the British Empire.

See the National Museum of Flight in a different way this summer with our family activity satchels.

This picture shows a turning point during the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

The Thin Red Line is one of the best known of all Scottish historical paintings and is the classic representation of Highland military heroism as an icon of Scotland.

The Cockcroft-Walton generator was developed at the University of Cambridge in the early 1930s to accomplish the first artificial splitting of the atom.

Head outdoors and see how many brilliant birds you can spot with the help of some bright binoculars! Learn how to make them here!

Discover the classic Ruston steam excavator, and find out how our conservation team restored it to its former glory.

Marvel up close at the pages of an illustrated prayer book featuring a handwritten poem by a young Mary, Queen of Scots.

This exhibition explored the stories of the Scottish diaspora and the war experiences of Commonwealth nations during the First World War.

What is it like to hold your own brain? John Scott, a Lothian Birth Cohort participant, was lucky enough to find out

This display highlights a small selection from our Scottish History & Archaeology collections, showing how research and collecting at National Museums Scotland is reshaping understandings of Scotland in the past, and reflecting the Scotland of today for future generations of museum visitors.

2019 marks the 100th anniversary of the first transatlantic flight from Britain to the United States. On 2 July 1919 Airship R.34 departed from East Fortune Airfield, landing on Long Island, New York 108 hours later.

Archaeological finds from Rome's invasions of Scotland can be found throughout the country, from the Solway Firth to Moray. Three of the most prominent sites are Trimontium, Traprain Law, and the Antonine Wall.

A general self-led visit is free to book and allows you to explore a wide range of topics.

Museums are great places to uncover stories. Build your own story, inspired by our amazing objects.

John Dickson was a Paisley weaver who joined the army in 1807 and rode in the famous charge of the Union Brigade at Waterloo.

This contemporary piece by sculptor Michael Eden celebrates the architectural styles of the National Museum of Scotland.

Discover how this traditional Scottish instrument was commissioned for the Performance and Lives gallery in the National Museum of Scotland.

Explore more at the National Museum of Rural Life this summer with our new Nature Track Packs.

Make your own bird spotting Blue Tit buddy with these instructions!

Find out more about the only giant ibis skeleton owned by any museum in the world.

Learn about the life of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) during the Second World War.

This exhibition explored the life and career of Bernat Klein, one of the 20th century’s leading forces in modernist design, in this free exhibition marking the centenary of his birth.

Some robots have arrived at the Museum needing our help! But sometimes the best person to fix a robot... is another robot!

In the early 18th century, natural history was an increasingly popular pastime and many people visited fields and ponds, often bringing a microscope, to investigate the flora and fauna.

Robert I, also known as Robert Bruce, was king of Scots from 1306 to 1329. Follow his journey from coronation to grave through objects associated with this famous warrior.

This revolutionary pneumatic tyre was donated to the museum by its maker, John Boyd Dunlop, in 1910. But who really invented it?

These silver spoons were bought by Assistant Surgeon Stewart Chisholm using prize money awarded to him for his service at Waterloo.

A new exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland showcasing artworks created in response to the climate crisis in Australia and the Pacific Islands. 12 August 2023 - 14 April 2024

Join curator Anna Groundwater for a guided virtual tour of life in Renaissance Scotland at the National Museum of Scotland.