Royal Museum 1185475 225996759 2008-07-16T11:10:08Z 79.178.115.235 :''For other museums called the Royal Museum, see [[Royal Museum (disambiguation)]].'' The '''Royal Museum''' is the old name for part of The National [[Museum]] of Scotland on [[Chambers Street]], in [[Edinburgh]], [[Scotland]]. Admission, other than for special temporary exhibitions, is free. The Royal Museum began in the 19th century and was added to in the 1990's when a new building known as The Museum of Scotland was added on. Both names became defunct in 2007 when they were merged into The National Museum of Scotland. ==Collections== The museum contains artifacts from around the world, encompassing [[geology]], [[archaeology]], [[natural history]], [[science]], [[technology]] and [[art]]. One of the more notable exhibits is [[Dolly the sheep]], the first successful clone of a mammal from an adult cell. Other highlights include [[History of Ancient Egypt|Ancient Egyptian]] exhibitions, one of [[Elton John]]'s extravagant suits, a suspended [[whale]] skeleton and the [[Millennium]] clock. The wing which contains the aforementioned whale skeleton is temporarily closed for renovation, and will reopen in 2011. ==Temporary Collections== The museum currently has an exhibit on Picasso ("Fired With Passion") for which an extra fee is charged. Past temporary exhibits include the Ivy Wu gallery with exhibits of art and script from [[Japan]], [[China]] and [[Korea]] and ran from 2006 to 2008. ==History and architecture== Construction was started in [[1861]] and proceeded in phases, with some sections opening before others had even begun construction. The original extent of the building was completed in [[1888]]. It was designed by [[Captain Francis Fowke]] of the [[Royal Engineers]], who is also responsible for the [[Royal Albert Hall]]. The exterior, designed in a [[Venice|Venetian]] [[Italian Renaissance|Renaissance]] style, contrasts sharply with the light flooded main hall, inspired by [[The Crystal Palace]]. Initially, much of its collection came from the Museum of [[Edinburgh University]]; there is even a bridge connecting the museum to the University's Old College building. The students saw the collection as their own, and [[curator]]s would often find the exhibits rearranged or even missing. The final straw came in the 1870s, when students who were holding a party found that the museum was also holding a reception for local dignitaries, and had stored refreshments in the bridge. When the museum found the refreshments missing, the bridge was bricked up the next day, as it has remained since. Numerous extensions to the back have extended the museum greatly since then. In [[1998]] the [[Museum of Scotland]] opened, which is linked internally to the Royal Museum. The two separate museums were them merged into one called The National Museum of Scotland in 2007. ==Footnotes== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.nms.ac.uk/ Museum official site] {{Scottish Museums and Art Galleries}} {{coor title dms|55|56|50|N|3|11|23|W|type:landmark}} [[Category:1861 architecture]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Edinburgh]] [[Category:Category A listed buildings]] [[Category:Listed buildings in Edinburgh]] [[Category:Visitor attractions in Edinburgh]] [[Category: Museums in Edinburgh]] [[Category:National Museums of Scotland]] [[Category:Old Town, Edinburgh]] [[Category:Natural history museums]] {{Scotland-org-stub}} {{Edinburgh-stub}} {{UK-museum-stub}} [[fr:Musée royal d'Écosse]] [[he:המוזיאון המלכותי של סקוטלנד]]