Discover more about our amazing objects through stories, films, games and resources.

Our collections represent Scottish material culture from the earliest times to the present day.

Our online database contains a selection of the 12 million objects and specimens in our collections.

An exciting new discovery from the TW:eed Research project.

Our Indian collections encompass a wide range of objects and reflect various aspects of Indian life.

This earthcreeper was one of thousands of specimens collected during a voyage that Charles Darwin joined on the HMS Beagle.

This small display highlighted a selection of the recent acquisitions at National Museums Scotland.

The 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.

Within the walls of Edinburgh Castle, the National War Museum tells the story of Scotland at war.

In 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.

The Natural Sciences department houses more than 2,000 shells, insects, bird skins and bats from the collections of the legendary naturalist John George Williams.

Discover how these amazing glass models have been educating and inspiring visitors for almost 150 years.

Delve into the diverse collection of pioneering ethnomusicologist Jean Jenkins.

National Museums Scotland’s Ancient Egyptian collection comprises around 6,000 items. Explore its rich treasures here.

Our Classical collection unlocks a window to a ‘birthplace of civilisation’: ancient Greece and Rome.

These carved wooden sculptures from West Africa represent the souls of deceased twins.

Navajo and Pueblo jewellery from the Southwest United States is denoted by its use of turquoise and silver.

Finely decorated household items of solid silver were a status symbol under the Pahlavi dynasty.

Discover our Ancient Egypt, East Asia and Ceramics galleries.

These sumptuous galleries showcase the best of decorative art, design, fashion and style.

A 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?

Our Scotland galleries guide you from the Palaeolithic era to the present day, from the earliest cultures to space age science, prehistory to pop culture.

How can you travel around the world without leaving Scotland? By visiting our World Cultures galleries.

Communications, transport, industry, engineering, energy and medicine: how have scientific and technological inventions changed our lives?

Your journey from Scotland to the world begins in the Grand Gallery, one of Scotland's most beautiful spaces.

This beautiful 19th century woodblock print by the acclaimed artist Utagawa Kunisada features the actor Kawarasaki Gonjūrō I.

Explore our collection of wonderful miniature Japanese sculptures that served functional and aesthetic purposes.

This 19th century writing box displays the height of the Japanese lacquer artist's skill.

This delightful 18th-century Japanese hanging scroll celebrates the New Year.

National Museums Scotland is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Sam Alberti as its new Director of Collections.

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

Wing your way to one of Scotland's top days out at East Fortune Airfield.

Explore highlights of our Japanese collection, from tiny netsuke to cutting edge designs, superb ceramics to Ainu artefacts.

Explore the amazing collections of National Museums Scotland through films, animations and podcasts.

Head of Collections Services

The use of social media platforms in promoting entomological collections.

This 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.

Explore how we use our collections to understand the past, present and future of the climate emergency.