As you might expect of any capital city, Edinburgh has its fair share of Museums and Art Galleries. Whether you are a full-fledged culture vulture or just looking for somewhere to spend some time out of the rain, somewhere in Edinburgh there should be a suitable venue to keep you interested.
The military museums in the Castle are covered under that heading, (since you have to pay the entrance fee for the Castle if you want to visit them). The next most imposing buildings under this heading are obviously the two galleries right in the middle of Princes Street. Both designed by the architect, William Playfair, who was perhaps the leading influence in gaining Edinburgh the title of the "Athens of the North".
Galleries.
The Royal Scottish Academy. is the first one you notice, the one right on Princes Street itself. The RSA is mostly used for temporary exhibitions during the year and it is probably a matter of luck as to whether or not you find the art on show to your own taste.
The National Gallery of Scotland, hiding behind the RSA, is a different kettle of fish entirely. The permanent collection does vary, with individual items being rearranged frequently and some of the more well-known works sometimes out on loan. I have no intention of trying to detail all the works here, buy a catalogue or come and enjoy! One of my own particular favourites is Raeburn's The Rev. Robert Walker Skating on Duddingston Loch.
The City Art Centre. in Market Street behind the main railway station is housed in an ex-fruitmarket building which has been excellently converted for its new purpose. This is normally the home of the city's own fine-art collection of over 3,000 paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures. It also contains studios for working artists and houses lectures, films and demonstrations. If you time it right, you may be able to catch one of the temporary exhibitions held here - these have included The Gold of the Pharaohs (with Tutenkhamun's treasures) and The Emperor's Warriors (the Terracotta Army from Xian in China).
The Fruitmarket Gallery. is immediately across the street from the City Art Centre and is an independant gallery featuring contemporary art, architecture and design.
The Scottish National Portrait Gallery. in Queen Street is housed in an imposing red sandstone building which was apparently modelled on the Doge's Palace in Venice and includes many statues of famous Scots. The collection includes Paintings and photographs of just about every famous Scot you could think of, and some whose Scottish connection is fairly tenuous.
The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art. in Belford Road was formerly housed in Inverleith House, part of the Royal Botanic Gardens. In it's present situation the grounds serve as a sculpture park with works by Epstein, Moore, Hepworth etc., while the building contains a constantly changing selection from the Gallery's own collection along with temporary loan exhibitions. Across Belford Road is the Dean Centre, which is soon include a seperate museum devoted to the work of Edinburgh-born artist Eduardo Paolozzi.
Museums.
The Royal Museum of Scotland in Chambers Street has just opened a new extension which cost millions and looks rather striking(?) with its new design and bright new stonework sitting beside the weathered traditional original building. This institution deserves a larger entry than this and luckily there is one - the National Museums of Scotland website, which not only covers this museum but also several other interesting establishments in Scotland, including the Museums of Flight, Costume, Agriculture and Piping (all outside Edinburgh), it also includes the United Services Museum in the Castle.
The Museum of Childhood in the Royal Mile has already been mentioned in this Guide but I make no apologies for including it again! Even if you can't stand museums and can think of nothing worse than tramping around one wasting your time looking at exhibits in glass cases, you should give this one a visit.
Libraries.
The National Library of Scotland in George IV Bridge is the severe looking building directly opposite the Central Lending Library. This is where the serious researcher goes. They hold copies of every book published in Scotland and have Newspaper records dating back as far as newspapers date back!
The Scottish Poetry Library. is situated in Tweeddale Court off the Royal Mile, just about opposite John Knox's House. This is where contemporary poetry of Scotland is gathered together and made freely accessible to all. There is also an interesting selection of 20th. Century poetry from all over the world, translated into English or in parallel text.
