Highlights
The story of Scotland’s lighthouses
Until Sun 3 April 2011
National Museum of Scotland
Free
More than 6,200 miles long and including more than 760 islands, the jagged Scottish coastline is one of the most dangerous in the world. Shining Lights: The Story of Scotland’s Lighthouses tells the story of the people who designed, built and operated Scotland’s lighthouses, lighting a safe passage for mariners for more than 250 years. The exhibition will mark next year’s 200th anniversary of the lighting of the world’s oldest rock lighthouse, the Bell Rock near Arbroath.
Spectacular giant optics, lighthouse models and interactive exhibits will be amongst the objects used within Shining Lights to explore the development of lighthouse technology. This ranges from the Egyptian Pharos lighthouse of Alexandria over 2000 years ago and the towers topped with bonfires that formed the first 17th century Scottish lighthouses, to the fully automated systems that mark the Scotland’s coastline today and are now controlled from a single room in Edinburgh.
Sponsored by Pagan Osborne
Part of Bell Rock 200
Hogmanay Family Ceilidh
Fri 31 December
National Museum of Scotland
14:00 (1.5hrs)
Free
Join the Canongate Cadjers Ceilidh Band for a lively, fun afternoon of traditional music, song and dance to bring in the New Year. It’s enthusiasm not experience that counts!
Exhibitions
Land Girls and Lumber Jills
National War Museum
26 February 2010 – February 2011
Included in Edinburgh Castle admission
This 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.
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. 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
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.
Garden Detectives
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, 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.
Events/activities
National Museum of Scotland
Talks and lectures
Christmas Lecture: Question Time with Malcolm Appleby
Wed 15 December
Hawthornden Court
18:30 (1.5hrs)
£5/£4/Members and Patrons free
Book on 0300 123 6789
Malcolm Appleby is one of our finest artist-craftsmen. He began his distinguished career as an engraver in 1968, developing new techniques for silver engraving and gold fusing onto steel. Examples of his work can be found in collections around the world, including National Museums Scotland. Join us to find out why he considers gold to be ‘just another lovely material to work with’.
Mulled wine and mince pies served from 18:30
Understanding Technology: Patenting the Telephone
Thu 20 January
Dunfermline Room
15:00 (1.5hrs)
Free
Book on 0300 123 6789
Professor Graeme Gooday from the University of Leeds explores the inventive history and legal disputes surrounding the development of the telephone.
Curator’s Choice: Looking Through the Past
Fri 21 January
Dunfermline Room
14:00 (1hr)
£5/£4/Members and Patrons free
Book on 0300 123 6789
How easy were the first microscopes to use? What can we learn from replica scientific instruments? Klaus Staubermann and Tacye Phillipson from our Science and Technology department invite you to explore these questions using replicas from Galileo’s telescope to a magic lantern, commissioned thanks to the Royal Society’s 350th anniversary programme.
‘ A jewel of gold…. placed in a silver dish’: The Glenmorangie Project
Mon 31 January
Royal Society of Edinburgh, George Street, Edinburgh
18:00 (1hr)
Free
Book on 0300 123 6789
Over the last three years generous financial support from The Glenmorangie Company has enabled the Archaeology department to undertake wide-ranging research into early historic Scotland. Dr David Clarke, Keeper of Archaeology, outlines some of the research team’s key findings.
Lecture held jointly with the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.
Christmas events
Christmas Bells
Sun 19 December
National Museum of Scotland
12:45, 13:45, 14:45 (20mins)
Free
Join the Parish of Dunkeld handbell ringers as they fill the Museum with festive chimes and cheer.
Christmas Art Competition
Mon 27 – Thu 30 December
National Museum of Scotland
10:00 – 17:00
Free (drop in)
Our popular art competition is back!
Explore the National Museum of Scotland galleries and our Shining Lights exhibition to find a favourite object to draw or paint. Paper, pencils and drawing boards are provided in this challenge suitable for all ages and abilities.
If you wish to use colour, please bring your own materials.
Hogmanay Family Ceilidh
Fri 31 December
National Museum of Scotland
14:00 (1.5hrs)
Free
Join the Canongate Cadjers Ceilidh Band for a lively, fun afternoon of traditional music, song and dance to bring in the New Year. It’s enthusiasm not experience that counts!
Weekend events
Lightbox
Level 3
Sat 4-Sun 5/ Sat 11-Sun 12/ Sat 18-Sun 19 December
11:30 – 13:00/14:00-15:30 (Drop-in)
Free
Drop in to get hands on and find out all about light and energy!
Alba Puppet Show
Sun 9 January
Hawthornden Court
12:45, 13:45, 14:45 (20 mins)
Free
Round off the holidays with some family fun from Alba adventures. Learn the story of the Black Douglas, meet Hamish the Highlander and hear the tale of the last bear in Scotland.
Wee Stories Theatre presents: Oor Rabbie
Sun 23 January
Hawthornden Court
12:30, 14:30 (1hr)
Free
Join acclaimed folk musician Wendy Weatherby and storyteller Andy Cannon for an original theatrical performance celebrating the life of Robert Burns. Discover the history of the famous bard through his best-known works in this fun family show.
Chinese New Year
Sat 5 – Sun 6 February
Hawthornden Court
12:00 – 16:00 (Drop-in)
Free
Join us to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit with colourful celebrations and a chance to make your own Chinese dragon to take home.
Message in a Bottle
Sun 13 – Mon 14 February
Hawthornden Court
12:00 – 16:00
Free (drop-in)
Living in a lighthouse? Marooned on a deserted island? How will you get a heartfelt message to your loved one this Valentines Day? In a bottle of course! Come and make your own message in a bottle gift to take away and give to someone special.
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
Check the website for more information on the different themes. www.nms.ac.uk/scotland
Family Tour (15mins)
Sat 14:00
National Museum of Flight
Special events
Supersonic Christmas
Sat 18 – Sun 19 December
12:00 – 16:00
Child £5
Come and meet Santa in his plane for a sky-high Christmas. Includes a gift from Santa!
National Museum of Rural Life
Special events
Willow Harvest
Sun 6 February
10:30 – 14:30 (4hrs)
Booking essential on 0300 123 6789
This naturally eco-friendly and versatile material has been used for centuries to make utensils and herbal remedies. Help us harvest this year’s crop.
Listings are now available as RSS feeds:
National Museum of Scotland
http://www.google.com/calendar/feeds/450bg9ocjee745agvs7smrni1s%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic
National War Museum
http://www.google.com/calendar/feeds/6dkrkkv41o09a9sfddmd9acpgk%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic
National Museum of Rural Life
http://www.google.com/calendar/feeds/o8c44s12818teeaamd6011p6v0%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic
National Museum of Flight
http://www.google.com/calendar/feeds/87lfdldrp2p0iucrsd2ldbs3b4%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic
National Museum of Costume
http://www.google.com/calendar/feeds/amqsrg2k59ub7lfd8ol3l11274%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic
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 0300 123 6789/www.nms.ac.uk