Rare scientific instrument in National Museums Scotland’s collection marks its 1000th anniversary
One of the rarest scientific instruments in the collections of National Museums Scotland marks a major milestone this year as it turns 1000 years old.
Rare Roman altars acquired for the nation will go on display in the autumn
Two spectacular stone altars from a Roman fort near Edinburgh have been acquired for the National Collection ahead of a major exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland. The rare carvings are among the finest examples of sculpture from Roman Britain and will go on display for the first time in Roman Scotland: Life on the Edge of Empire (14 November 2026 – 28 April 2027).
Giant exhibition opens in Edinburgh this weekend
Giants
National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh
31 January – 14 September 2026
410 million year old fossil which defies classification enters collection of National Museums Scotland
UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL 7pm GMT, Wednesday 21st January
A 410 million year-old fossil from Aberdeenshire in Scotland which scientists have identified as being a ‘new’ form of life, distinct from plants or fungi, has been added to the collections of National Museums Scotland.
Material from Concorde’s first flight donated to the National Museum of Flight
A personal archive of rare material from Concorde’s first commercial flight has been donated to the National Museum of Flight in East Lothian. The acquisition of dozens of items including tickets, menus and photographs, comes on the 50th anniversary of this inaugural journey.
Latest news
Cloned sheep that paved the way for Dolly the sheep goes on show at the National Museum of Rural Life
Morag the sheep – an important cloned predecessor to the world-famous Dolly the sheep - has gone on permanent display at the National Museum of Rural Life in East Kilbride as part of a new section exploring the role of science in agriculture, Scotland’s Farming Future.
Untold story of Scotland’s wartime air defence system revealed
The remarkable and largely untold story of the air defence network in Scotland during the Second World War is revealed in a new book by the National Museum of Flight’s aviation curator, Ian Brown.
Rare scientific instrument in National Museums Scotland’s collection marks its 1000th anniversary
One of the rarest scientific instruments in the collections of National Museums Scotland marks a major milestone this year as it turns 1000 years old.
Visit Our Website
Discover more about National Museums Scotland and the remarkable objects in the national collection.
What's On
Find out more about our upcoming exhibitions and events.
Media Enquiries
Contact the press office for all filming, photography and media enquiries.
Blog
Read the latest National Museums Scotland blog posts.