Dumfries Museum

Dumfries Museum and Camera Obscura
Exterior view of the Camera Obscura
General information
Architectural style	Victorian and modern
Town or city	Dumfries
Country	Scotland
Coordinates	55°03′55″N 3°36′53″W / 55.0652°N 3.6146°W / 55.0652; -3.6146Coordinates: 55°03′55″N 3°36′53″W / 55.0652°N 3.6146°W / 55.0652; -3.6146
Renovated	2011

Dumfries Museum and Camera Obscura, located in Dumfries in Dumfries & Galloway, is the largest museum in the region. The museum has extensive collections relating to local and history from the pre-historic era. The museum also has the world's oldest working Camera Obscura. Admission is free, however a small fee applies for the Camera Obscura.

Collections

The museum's collections cover all material relating to the natural history and human pre-history of the region, from geology to dress, folk material, archaeology and early photographs.

Notable artefacts include:

A cast of the skull of Robert the Bruce as well as femur and foot bones.
A Bronze Age cist burial including the remains of a 35-year-old man from the beaker people.
A large collection of Roman and Celtic stone crosses and funerary monuments.
A replica of the first bicycle, as designed by Kirkpatrick Macmillan.
The photographic archive of Dr Werner Kissling.
Personal items belonging to Thomas Carlyle

History

Originally built as a four-storey windmill on Corbelly hill, the highest point in Maxwelltown, in 1798, the site was purchased by Dumfries and Maxwellton Astronomical Society in 1834. Over a two-year period the tower was converted into an Observatory, and with advice from polar explorer Sir John Ross, a telescope was purchased from a Mr Morton of Kilmarnock. With its completion in 1836, unfortunately the observatory missed the arrival of Halley's comet; however, it was used in this role until 1872.

The main hall of the museum was built in 1862, and housed the collections of the newly founded Dumfries and Galloway Natural History & Antiquarian Society. In 1981 a major addition of a new gallery, shop, search room and offices for curatorial staff was added. In 2011 the exterior of the windmill tower was refurbished.

Camera Obscura

The camera obscura is currently the oldest working example in the world, and has been in continuous operation since 1836. The instrument, based in the top level of the windmill tower, offers a complete 360° panorama of the surrounding landscape. The image is projected onto a focusing table below, and operated using a simple rope mechanism. In order to protect the instrument it is only operated during the summer months and on days when weather conditions are clear.

External links

Dumfries Museum Home Page
Dumfries Museum at Dumfries and Galloway Council website
Dumfries Museum on Future Museum

Museums and Art Galleries of Scotland

National Museums of Scotland	National Museum of Scotland National Museum of Costume National Museum of Flight National Museum of Rural Life National Museums Collection Centre National War Museum

National Galleries of Scotland	Dean Gallery Duff House Paxton House Royal Scottish Academy Building Scottish National Gallery Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art Scottish National Portrait Gallery

Art galleries and collections	Aberdeen Art Gallery Burrell Collection Dick Institute Dundee Contemporary Arts Fruitmarket Gallery Gallery of Modern Art Georgian House Gracefield Arts Centre Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery Inverness Museum and Art Gallery Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum Kirkcaldy Museum and Art Gallery Meigle Sculptured Stone Museum McManus Galleries McLellan Galleries Montrose Museum Perth Museum and Art Gallery Pier Arts Centre Stirling Smith Museum and Art Gallery Queen's Gallery Talbot Rice Gallery Tramway

History	Alloa Tower Broughty Castle Museum David Livingstone Centre Museum of Childhood Provand's Lordship St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art Surgeons' Hall Writers' Museum

Local history	Aberdeenshire Farming Museum Angus Folk Museum Biggar Museum Trust Campbeltown Heritage Centre Dumfries Museum Fife Folk Museum Gladstone's Land Highland Folk Museum Highland Museum of Childhood Inveraray Jail John Knox House King's Museum Montrose Museum Museum of Ayrshire Country Life and Costume Museum of Edinburgh Museum of the University of St Andrews New Lanark Newhaven Heritage Museum North Lanarkshire Heritage Centre People's Palace People's Story Museum Provost Skene's House Scotland Street School Museum Signal Tower Museum St Andrews Museum Stewartry Museum The Tolbooth

Maritime	Aberdeen Maritime Museum Discovery Point HMS Unicorn Museum of Scottish Lighthouses Scottish Fisheries Museum Scottish Maritime Museum

Military	Black Watch Museum Gordon Highlanders Museum Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre

Natural history	Dick Institute Marischal Museum McManus Galleries

Science and Industry	Mills Observatory Museum of the University of St Andrews Museum on the Mound Prestongrange Industrial Heritage Museum Scotland’s Jute Museum @ Verdant Works Summerlee, Museum of Scottish Industrial Life

Sport	British Golf Museum Scottish Football Museum

Transport	Dundee Museum of Transport Glasgow Museum of Transport Grampian Transport Museum Myreton Motor Museum Scottish Industrial Railway Centre Scottish Railway Museum

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