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Discover more about our amazing objects through stories, films, games and resources.
ViewOur collections represent Scottish material culture from the earliest times to the present day.
ViewOur online database contains a selection of the 12 million objects and specimens in our collections.
ViewAn exciting new discovery from the TW:eed Research project.
ViewOur Indian collections encompass a wide range of objects and reflect various aspects of Indian life.
ViewThis earthcreeper was one of thousands of specimens collected during a voyage that Charles Darwin joined on the HMS Beagle.
ViewThis small display highlighted a selection of the recent acquisitions at National Museums Scotland.
ViewThe 1897 invasion and looting of the west African Kingdom of Benin resulted in the sale and dispersal of thousands of artworks into European and American museums.
ViewWithin the walls of Edinburgh Castle, the National War Museum tells the story of Scotland at war.
ViewIn 1971, over 300 beautiful scent bottles were donated to National Museums Scotland. The scent bottles were collected by Ida Pappenheim. Discover the story behind this charming collection.
ViewThe Natural Sciences department houses more than 2,000 shells, insects, bird skins and bats from the collections of the legendary naturalist John George Williams.
ViewDiscover how these amazing glass models have been educating and inspiring visitors for almost 150 years.
ViewDelve into the diverse collection of pioneering ethnomusicologist Jean Jenkins.
ViewNational Museums Scotland’s Ancient Egyptian collection comprises around 6,000 items. Explore its rich treasures here.
ViewOur Classical collection unlocks a window to a ‘birthplace of civilisation’: ancient Greece and Rome.
ViewThese carved wooden sculptures from West Africa represent the souls of deceased twins.
ViewNavajo and Pueblo jewellery from the Southwest United States is denoted by its use of turquoise and silver.
ViewFinely decorated household items of solid silver were a status symbol under the Pahlavi dynasty.
ViewDiscover our Ancient Egypt, East Asia and Ceramics galleries.
ViewThese sumptuous galleries showcase the best of decorative art, design, fashion and style.
ViewA giant T.rex guards our Natural World galleries, where we ask the big questions: how does the world work? What do we know about it? What is our place in the universe?
ViewOur Scotland galleries guide you from the Palaeolithic era to the present day, from the earliest cultures to space age science, prehistory to pop culture.
ViewHow can you travel around the world without leaving Scotland? By visiting our World Cultures galleries.
ViewCommunications, transport, industry, engineering, energy and medicine: how have scientific and technological inventions changed our lives?
ViewYour journey from Scotland to the world begins in the Grand Gallery, one of Scotland's most beautiful spaces.
ViewThis beautiful 19th century woodblock print by the acclaimed artist Utagawa Kunisada features the actor Kawarasaki Gonjūrō I.
ViewThis 19th century writing box displays the height of the Japanese lacquer artist's skill.
ViewThis delightful 18th-century Japanese hanging scroll celebrates the New Year.
ViewNational Museums Scotland is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Sam Alberti as its new Director of Collections.
ViewThe Making Circles schools project invited children to be inspired by National Museums Scotland’s collections to create new Circular Economy products.
ViewWing your way to one of Scotland's top days out at East Fortune Airfield.
ViewExplore highlights of our Japanese collection, from tiny netsuke to cutting edge designs, superb ceramics to Ainu artefacts.
ViewExplore the amazing collections of National Museums Scotland through films, animations and podcasts.
ViewThe use of social media platforms in promoting entomological collections.
ViewThis Boulton & Watt engine was the first full-sized engine acquired for the collections and is one of the oldest surviving beam engines in the world.
ViewExplore how we use our collections to understand the past, present and future of the climate emergency.
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