Dumfries Museum
Dumfries Museum
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| 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.
Contents
1 Collections
2 History
3 Camera Obscura
4 References
5 External links
Collections[edit]
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.[1]
Notable artefacts include:
- A cast of the skull of Robert the Bruce as well as femur and foot bones.[2]
- A Bronze Age cist burial including the remains of a 35-year-old man from the beaker people.[3]
- A large collection of Roman and Celtic stone crosses and funerary monuments.[4][5]
- A replica of the first bicycle, as designed by Kirkpatrick Macmillan.[6]
- The photographic archive of Dr Werner Kissling.[7]
- Personal items belonging to Thomas Carlyle[8]
History[edit]
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.[9] Over a two-year period the tower was converted into an Observatory,[10] 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.[11]
Camera Obscura[edit]
The camera obscura is currently the oldest working example in the world, and has been in continuous operation since 1836.[12] 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.[13] In order to protect the instrument it is only operated during the summer months and on days when weather conditions are clear.[14]
References[edit]
^ http://www.futuremuseum.co.uk/about/partner-museums/a-z-list-of-partners/dumfries-museum-camera-obscura.aspx
^ http://www.futuremuseum.co.uk/collections/people/lives-in-key-periods/the-medieval-period-(1100ad-1499ad)/wars-of-independence/robert-(i)-the-bruce/robert-the-bruce,-cast-of-his-skull.aspx
^ http://www.futuremuseum.co.uk/collections/people/lives-in-key-periods/archaeology/the-bronze-age/ritual/cist-burial,-mainsriddle,-colvend-and-southwick.aspx
^ http://www.futuremuseum.co.uk/collections/people/lives-in-key-periods/archaeology/roman/ritual-and-religion.aspx
^ http://www.futuremuseum.co.uk/collections/people/lives-in-key-periods/archaeology/early-medieval-(400ad-1099ad)/early-christians.aspx
^ http://www.futuremuseum.co.uk/collections/people/key-people/science-invention/kirkpatrick-macmillan/replica-of-kirkpatrick-macmillans-bicycle.aspx
^ http://www.futuremuseum.co.uk/collections/people/key-people/collectors-explorers/dr-werner-kissling.aspx
^ http://www.futuremuseum.co.uk/collections/people/key-people/writers-poets/thomas-carlyle.aspx
^ http://www.nothingtoseehere.net/2010/06/dumfries_camera_obscura_dumfri.html
^ http://www.electricscotland.com/history/dumfries/history60.htm
^ http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/dumfries/museum/
^ https://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/dumfries-museum-and-camera-obscura-p251151
^ http://www.nothingtoseehere.net/2010/06/dumfries_camera_obscura_dumfri.html
^ http://www.dumgal.gov.uk/article/15737/Dumfries-Museum-and-Camera-Obscura
External links[edit]
Dumfries Museum at Dumfries and Galloway Council website- Dumfries Museum on Future Museum
Categories:
- Museums in Dumfries and Galloway
- Local museums in Scotland
- Natural history museums in Scotland
- Dumfries
- Camera obscuras
- 1862 establishments in Scotland
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