National Museums Scotland listings
3 May – 28 June 2010
Highlights
The Lewis Chessmen: Unmasked
National Museum of Scotland
21 May – Sun 19 Sept
Special Exhibitions gallery, Level 3
21 May – Sun 19 Sept
Special Exhibitions gallery, Level 3
Free
A major new exhibition on the iconic Lewis Chessmen will open at the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh in May this year. Featuring chessmen drawn from the collections of National Museums Scotland and the British Museum, The Lewis Chessmen: Unmasked is the most comprehensive exhibition on the chessmen for over a decade.
The exhibition will look at the mystery and intrigue surrounding the chessmen, explore the stories surrounding their discovery and show how the characters reflected society at the time they were made. It will draw upon new research by National Museums Scotland on their craftsmanship, origins and historical context to provide visitors with a new and vibrant perspective on the chessmen.
The National Museum of Scotland is the first venue for the exhibition, which will later travel to Aberdeen Art Gallery, Shetland Museum & Archives and Museum nan Eilean in Stornoway. The exhibition and tour has been made possible with funding from the Scottish Government.
The Jet Age
National Museum of Flight
New permanent exhibition
Included in museum admission
Take a look at the UK’s only Boeing 707 cockpit and cabin as we launch The Jet Age. The exhibition features the reminiscences of former cabin crew and passengers from the heyday of commercial travel. Visitors can revel in the glory of 1960s air travel, when photographing celebrities at the airport was still a novelty! Discover how the aircraft was made and watch interviews of passengers and crew. Uniforms, baggage trolleys, airline jet engines and an airport fire engine all help tell the story of the airline that ushered in the ‘Jet Age’.
Parachute Store
National Museum of Flight
New permanent exhibition
Included in museum admission
New permanent exhibition
Included in museum admission
Experience an evocative glimpse into life at East Fortune in the Second World War. Newly restored to its original appearance, the Parachute Store is where parachutes were hung from the ceiling to dry and repacked ready for use.
Marriage in the Movies
National Museum of Costume
Fri 9 April – Sun 31 October
Entrance included in Museum admission
Fri 9 April – Sun 31 October
Entrance included in Museum admission
Marriage in the Movies presents some of the most memorable wedding moments captured on film as we showcase gowns and accessories from the big (and small) screens.
The exhibition features wedding dresses worn by Keira Knightley, Helena Bonham-Carter and Meryl Streep, examines the iconic work of Oscar-winning costume designers, and explores the history of the wedding gown from its symbolism and tradition to fashion and style. While all the wedding gowns on display were made especially for the screen, they also represent the story and the style of the time – from the 1770s in Frankenstein and the late eighteenth century in The Duchess, to the early 1900s in Howard’s End.
Exhibitions
Land Girls and Lumber Jills
National War Museum
26 February 2010 – February 2011
Included in Edinburgh Castle admission
This new exhibition tells the important story of the Women’s Land Army (WLA) and Women’s Timber Corps (WTC) in Scotland. >From roots in the First World War, these Land Girls and Lumber Jills played a vital role in feeding the nation and providing timber. Objects include a formal uniform from the 1940s right up to the 2008 medal awarded to all surviving members of both the WLA and WTC.
This new exhibition tells the important story of the Women’s Land Army (WLA) and Women’s Timber Corps (WTC) in Scotland. >From roots in the First World War, these Land Girls and Lumber Jills played a vital role in feeding the nation and providing timber. Objects include a formal uniform from the 1940s right up to the 2008 medal awarded to all surviving members of both the WLA and WTC.
‘Land girls’ took on all types of agricultural work from sowing to harvesting, calving to shearing, whilst the Women’s Timber Corps supplied the wood. Some volunteered but others were conscripted as by 1941 all women under the age of 60, without children under 14, could be called up for essential war work. Public recognition of the vital hard work and commitment from these women arrived in 2008 when they were issued with a medal which incorporated the designs from both the Land Army badge and that of the Timber Corps, along with a certificate of thanks from the Prime Minister.
Garden Detectives
National Museum of Rural Life
Free with museum admission
National Museum of Rural Life
Free with museum admission
What lurks at the bottom of your garden? See the natural world through the eyes of a detective. Delve into hedges, take a peek in our shed and unearth wonders from our flower beds and pond. Explore habitats, study food chains, track animals and discover what they get up to while you’re asleep! Inspired by the work of Charles Darwin to mark his 200th birthday, Garden Detectives turns the ordinary into the extraordinary. Take a larger-than-life look at plants and flowers, learn fascinating facts about nature and experience all the sounds and smells of a real garden, without getting your hands dirty. Darwin200 is a national programme of events celebrating Charles Darwin’s scientific ideas and their impact on society.
Treasured: Wonderful Things, Amazing Stories
National Museum of Scotland
Until 2011
Free
Until 2011
Free
This exhibition offers the chance to discover some of the most extraordinary treasures in the care of National Museums Scotland. Featuring over 300 objects drawn from the four corners of the globe and spanning across centuries, Treasured: Wonderful Things, Amazing Stories celebrates the wonder and diversity of the National Museums’ world-class collections. From a Sumatran tiger to a Victorian corset, Treasured is an eclectic mix of the spectacular, extraordinary, precious and personal. The exhibition provides a link to the Royal Museum collections during closure, casting new light on familiar objects and also giving a first glimpse of some of the objects which will feature in the redeveloped National Museum of Scotland when it re-opens in 2011.
Events/activities
National Museum of Scotland
Talks and lectures
Understanding Technology: Models and Mechanism in 19th Century Britain
Thu 6 May
Dunfermline Room
15:00 (1hr 30mins)
Free
Book now on 0131 225 7534
Join Aberdeen University’s Ben Marsden, historian of engineering and technology and author of bestselling Engineering Empires, for the latest in the Understanding Technology series.
Join Aberdeen University’s Ben Marsden, historian of engineering and technology and author of bestselling Engineering Empires, for the latest in the Understanding Technology series.
In association with the Institute for the Study of Science, Technology and Innovation, University of Edinburgh.
Curator’s Choice: The Scottish Life Archive
Fri 21 May
Dunfermline Room
14:00 (1hr)
£5 / £4 / Members free
Book now on 0131 225 7534
Join Dorothy Kidd to discover the secrets of the Scottish Life Archive, which records evidence of Scotland’s social history as a background to the artefacts in our collections. Diaries, plans, posters, photographs and oral history – all are useful sources of information. Find out how you can contribute to this collection. Power from the Waves? Scotland’s Renewable Energy Resource
Join Dorothy Kidd to discover the secrets of the Scottish Life Archive, which records evidence of Scotland’s social history as a background to the artefacts in our collections. Diaries, plans, posters, photographs and oral history – all are useful sources of information. Find out how you can contribute to this collection. Power from the Waves? Scotland’s Renewable Energy Resource
Wed 26 May
Early People gallery
19:00 (1hr)
£5 / £4 / Members free
Booking now on 0131 225 7534
Learn about Scotland’s energy provision and innovation in the field of renewables. Malcolm Bowie describes the developments from the industry’s perspective, and Rowan Brown, Senior Curator of Technology, illustrates how they impact on the Museum’s collecting ambitions.
Learn about Scotland’s energy provision and innovation in the field of renewables. Malcolm Bowie describes the developments from the industry’s perspective, and Rowan Brown, Senior Curator of Technology, illustrates how they impact on the Museum’s collecting ambitions.
Curator’s Choice: Scottish Clocks
Fri 11 June
Dunfermline Room
14:00 (1hr)
£5 / £4 / Members free
Book now on 0131 225 7534
Join Assistant Curator Lyndsay McGill and Clock Conservator Darren Cox for an insight into National Museums Scotland’s Scottish clock collection. Learn more about long-case clocks from the 17th–19th centuries, as well as the more unusual examples on display.
Join Assistant Curator Lyndsay McGill and Clock Conservator Darren Cox for an insight into National Museums Scotland’s Scottish clock collection. Learn more about long-case clocks from the 17th–19th centuries, as well as the more unusual examples on display.
The Lewis Chessmen
Wed 23 June
Early People gallery
19:00 (1hr)
£5 / £4 / Members free
Booking now on 0131 225 7534
New research has revealed that there is a lot more to be said about how, when and where these gaming pieces were buried. We can even speculate about who might have owned them. Find out more with Dr David Caldwell, Keeper of Scotland and Europe.
New research has revealed that there is a lot more to be said about how, when and where these gaming pieces were buried. We can even speculate about who might have owned them. Find out more with Dr David Caldwell, Keeper of Scotland and Europe.
Special events
Romans and Vikings
A Slice of Life
Sat 1 May – Mon 3 May/Sat 15 – Mon 17 May
A Slice of Life
Sat 1 May – Mon 3 May/Sat 15 – Mon 17 May
11:00 – 13:00/ 14:00-16:00 (Drop-in)
Free
Step back in time and encounter everyday characters from Scottish history, all with a story to tell. From an astronomer to an alewife – who will you meet today? See the information screens for daily locations.
Jacobites and the Soldiers of Queen Mary
Sat 15 May – Sun 16 May
12:00 – 16:00 (Drop-in)
Free
Come along on Saturday to find out how the Jacobites lived and fought – but watch you don’t get drafted into the Redcoat Army! On Sunday, explore 16th century costume and weaponry. From court to combat, discover the etiquette of the period.
Meet the Author: The Chess Piece Magician
Sun 30 May
Visit www.nms.ac.uk for times and booking details
Free
Inspired by the Lewis Chessmen, The Chess Piece Magician is a fantasy adventure set on the Isle of Lewis. Come and meet the author, Douglas Bruton, and create your own island adventure!
Weekend events
Connect Super Science Shows
Connect gallery
Every Sat and Sun
12:15/13:15/14:15/15:15 (20mins)
Age 5+
Limited space (seating for 20)
12:15/13:15/14:15/15:15 (20mins)
Age 5+
Limited space (seating for 20)
Free
Come along to our free events every weekend in Connect. Find out about science in the real world at our Meet the Scientist events or enjoy a Super Science Show!
Free Tours: Scottish Collections
Tours leave from the Hawthornden Court meeting point:
Highlights Tour (1hr)
Daily 11:30/13:30
Themed Tour (1hr)
Daily 14:30
Family Tour (15mins)
Sat 14:00
Treasured: Wonderful Things, Amazing Stories Tour (1hr)
Tue 15:00/Fri 12:00
Information about topics for themed and family tours can be found on the museum’s information screens and on our websitewww.nms.ac.uk/tours.
National War Museum
Special events
Blackwatch
Sat 22 – Sun 23 May
Sat 22 – Sun 23 May
9:45 – 16:00
Events are included in Castle admission
The Blackwatch brings the sights, sounds and smells of the battlefield to life. Enjoy plenty of piping and a musket drill and discover the unappetising rations of the troops. The highlight of the day is the firing display – be warned it is very loud!
The Blackwatch brings the sights, sounds and smells of the battlefield to life. Enjoy plenty of piping and a musket drill and discover the unappetising rations of the troops. The highlight of the day is the firing display – be warned it is very loud!
Clan Warriors
Sat 19 – Sun 20 June
Sat 19 – Sun 20 June
9:45 – 16:00
Events are included in Castle admission
The courtyard rings with the clash of steel as our master-at-arms puts his pupils through their paces. Will the full plaid and array of weapons give our volunteer the courage to take part in the Highland Charge?
The courtyard rings with the clash of steel as our master-at-arms puts his pupils through their paces. Will the full plaid and array of weapons give our volunteer the courage to take part in the Highland Charge?
National Museum of Flight
Special events
Second World War Days
Sat 1 – Sun 2 May
Sat 1 – Sun 2 May
10:00 – 17:00
Adult £10, Conc £8, Child 12 and under free, National Museums Scotland members free.
Parking £4. Group discounts available – please call 0131 247 4238 for more information.
Take an evocative trip back in time and find out what life was like during the Second World War. Get up close to vehicles of the period, watch our spectacular tank parade and meet characters from the 1940s. A Wartime Tea Dance will be held from 14:00 on each event day. Enjoy music from a live band, join in dances, or watch the experts strut their stuff! Spaces are limited, so book now!
Wartime Tea dance supported by Show Scotland.
Into the Future
Sat 19 – Sun 20 June
Sat 19 – Sun 20 June
10:00 – 17:00
Adult £10, Conc £8, Child 12 and under free, National Museums Scotland members free.
Parking £4. Group discounts available – please call 0131 247 4238 for more information.
Join Robots Live! as they bring their show to Scotland for the very first time. See machines from television’s Robot Wars fight live in the arena and watch amazing boxing robots battle. Talk to a scientist, try on a pair of anti-gravity boots, or take a UFO or extraterrestrial picture to fool the nation!
National Museum of Rural Life
Special events
Classic Cars
Sun 2 May
Sun 2 May
10:00 – 17:00
Adult £7, Conc £6, Child 12 and under free, National Museums Scotland members free
Spend a day with hundreds of classic cars, lovely lorries and vintage vehicles! Discover the power needed to produce and harvest what you eat, from ploughing to threshing. Find out about bio fuel, visit the farm to meet a 1950s farm worker with his vehicle, and join a workshop to learn some country crafts!
Grow it, Cook it, Eat it
Sun 6 June
Sun 6 June
10:00 – 17:00
Adult £7, Conc £6, Child 12 and under free, National Museums Scotland members free
Where does food come from? Enjoy a guided wild food walk. Find out how to make butter and grow your own vegetables. Meet local brewers, whiskey distillers and food producers and take home some country flavour!
Go Wild in the Country
Fri 25 June – Mon 23 August
Fri 25 June – Mon 23 August
11:30/14:00 (2hrs)
Booking essential on 0131 247 4369
Enjoy country activities including den-making, ranger skills, photography and our Garden Detectives exhibition. Make a day of it with a picnic and trips on our Farm Explorer.
Museum addresses:
National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF
National War Museum, Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh, EH1 2NG
National Museum of Flight, East Fortune Airfield, East Lothian EH39 5LF
National Museum of Costume, Shambellie House, New Abbey, Dumfries, DG2 8HQ
National Museum of Rural Life, Wester Kittochside, Philipshill Road, East Kilbride, G76 9HR
For booking, opening times and location details, contact National Museums Scotland on 0131 225 7534/www.nms.ac.uk
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