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Visitors enjoying archaeology activities at the National Museum of Rural Life. Photo (c) Claudia Scandella  (10)

Dig in for a weekend of amazing archaeology at the National Museum of Rural Life

Nms.ac.uk/archaeology-weekend 

Discover amazing archaeology at the National Museum of Rural Life this Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 July. Archaeology Weekend is free with Museum admission thanks to the support of Postcode Lottery players and features a programme of family-friendly activities, workshops and extraordinary experts. 

Curator Ella Paul examines the pistol at National Museums Scotland. Image © Duncan McGlynn (2)

Pair of rare Jacobite-era pistols reunited

Two rare Jacobite-era pistols have been reunited in a new exhibition at Montrose Museum. A pistol on loan from National Museums Scotland is displayed alongside its pair in Tartan & Turmoil: The Angus Jacobite Story.

Dr Vladimir Blagoderov, Principal Curator of Invertebrates at National Museums Scotland examines a moth which will be digitised as part of the DiSSCo UK project. Image copyright Neil Hanna (2)

Major digitisation project to document Scotland’s biodiversity

A major international digitisation project will begin this summer which aims to create approximately 700,000 digital records of specimens held in Scotland’s natural science collections.

National Museums Scotland Curator Dr Calum Robertson with the cast iron angels. Image (c) Neil Hanna (3)

New display explores the creation of the Scottish National War Memorial

A new display at the National War Museum in Edinburgh Castle will explore the story behind the Scottish National War Memorial ahead of its centenary next summer.  

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National Museum of Rural Life celebrates 25th anniversary with Tractor Parade

A 1960 Massey Ferguson 35 has been specially decorated ahead of a tractor parade to mark the 25th anniversary of the National Museum of Rural Life at 3pm this afternoon, Saturday 4 July. The vehicle was the first tractor through the gates of the East Kilbride attraction when it opened to the public on 4 July 2001.

The tractor at the National Museum of Rural Life. Photo © Andy Catlin

National Museum of Rural Life to celebrate 25th anniversary

The National Museum of Rural Life in East Kilbride will celebrate a quarter century with a day of special activities on Saturday 4 July. 

Iron Age Marshill assemblage. Photo © National Museums Scotland (1) (1)

Treasures of an Iron Age warrior go on display for the first time

Objects from the richest Iron Age burial yet discovered in Scotland will go on display for the first time this weekend, in a new exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland. The rare weapons, jewellery and fittings were found in the grave of a young man buried 2,000 years ago.  

Awesome Bricks returns to the National Museum of Flight. Image credit Andy Catlin.

Families to build memories with LEGO® Bricks at the National Museum of Flight this Father’s Day Weekend

Returning for its ninth year, the hugely popular Awesome Bricks event lands at East Lothian’s National Museum of Flight this Father’s Day weekend, 20-21 June.  

Assistant Curator Bethany Simpson with the Pathhead brooch. Image © National Museums Scotland 3

Unique Roman brooch discovered in Scotland to go on display for the first time

A one-of-a-kind Roman brooch discovered in Midlothian will go on display for the first time in a major new exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland, Roman Scotland: Life on the Edge of Empire (14 November 2026 – 18 April 2027). Tickets for the exhibition – which will reshape our understanding of Scotland’s relationship with the Roman world - go on sale today, Friday 5th of June. 

University of Glasgow students Lily and Layla examine tartan samples. Photo © Duncan McGlynn (1)

Historic tartan archive gifted to the nation will transform understanding of Scotland’s 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.

Cammy Wilson in action at the National Museum of Rural Life.  Photo © Ruth Armstrong (1)

Families to flock to the National Museum of Scotland for Woolly Weekend

nms.ac.uk/woollyweekend 

 

Woolly Weekend will return to the National Museum of Rural Life in East Kilbride this month. The popular family event celebrates the wonderful world of wool, running on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 May.