https://media.nms.ac.uk/ News from National Museums Scotland en-GB PRgloo 6a01aaa954035d2c30ac6f68 https://media.nms.ac.uk/news/historic-tartan-archive-gifted-to-the-nation-will-transform-understanding-of-scotlands-textile-heritage An archive of almost 800 historic tartan samples has been donated to National Museums Scotland. The textiles were produced by J&D Paton, one of the largest tartan manufacturers of the 19th and 20th centuries, and have been gifted to the nation by Stuart Paton, the great great grandson of the firm’s founder.

]]> Mon, 18 May 2026 09:51:00 Z 6a048a389c1cdffade2ddda4 https://media.nms.ac.uk/news/families-to-flock-to-the-national-museum-of-scotland-for-woolly-weekend <p><a href="https://www.nms.ac.uk/events/woolly-weekend"><strong>nms.ac.uk/woollyweekend</strong></a>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Woolly Weekend</em>&nbsp;will return to the National Museum of Rural Life in East Kilbride this month. The popular&nbsp;family event&nbsp;celebrates&nbsp;the&nbsp;wonderful&nbsp;world of wool,&nbsp;running&nbsp;on&nbsp;Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 May.&nbsp;</p> Thu, 14 May 2026 09:05:00 Z 69cbd4623e48e0dfd32d4d44 https://media.nms.ac.uk/news/dig-up-some-fun-this-half-term-at-the-national-museum-of-rural-life Spring has arrived at the National Museum of Rural Life in East Kilbride this half term. Dig into soil themed storytelling sessions and craft activities, and visit the new-born lambs during Spring Explorers, running from 14-17 April.  

]]> Thu, 02 Apr 2026 09:00:00 Z 69bd5ceec2307da8942f00f6 https://media.nms.ac.uk/news/bronze-age-shield-returns-to-scotland-for-first-time-in-over-200-years Featured Six Bronze Age shields have been brought together for the first time ahead of a new exhibition opening at the National Museum of Scotland this summer. Dating from 3300 to 3500 years ago, the shields include the only intact examples to survive from Scotland. 

]]> Mon, 30 Mar 2026 08:14:00 Z 69bd2dcfc2307da8942efb84 https://media.nms.ac.uk/news/cloned-sheep-that-paved-the-way-for-dolly-the-sheep-goes-on-show-at-the-national-museum-of-rural-life Featured 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.

]]> Fri, 27 Mar 2026 00:01:00 Z 69b7e126c2307da8942ea4c4 https://media.nms.ac.uk/news/untold-story-of-scotlands-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.

]]> Mon, 16 Mar 2026 10:57:00 Z 69983eecc21b33fc244878c1 https://media.nms.ac.uk/news/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 Featured 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.

]]> Sun, 22 Feb 2026 10:00:00 Z 698495ea2c2269fa916002e0 https://media.nms.ac.uk/news/rare-roman-altars-acquired-for-the-nation-will-go-on-display-in-the-autumn Featured 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). 

]]> Wed, 11 Feb 2026 00:15:00 Z 698499fb2c2269fa91600330 https://media.nms.ac.uk/news/roman-scotland-life-on-the-edge-of-empire <p><strong>14</strong><strong>th</strong><strong>&nbsp;November 2026 – 28</strong><strong>th</strong><strong>&nbsp;April 2027</strong>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF</strong>&nbsp;</p> Wed, 11 Feb 2026 00:05:00 Z 698375032c2269fa915fc879 https://media.nms.ac.uk/news/take-flight-this-half-term-at-the-national-museum-of-flight At the National Museum of Flight this half term, master the skills needed by pilots during the Second World War. Thanks to the support of players of People’s Postcode Lottery, families can enjoy hands-on activities as part of Pilot Training School, running from Saturday 14 to Wednesday 18 February. 

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