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
Renovated	2011

Dumfries Museum & 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 worlds 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 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 having received 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 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.

Images

• 15th Century gold ring with gems
  15th Century gold ring with gems
• Celtic sculpture showing Roman influence
  Celtic sculpture showing Roman influence
• Jacobite Era Basket-Hilt sword
  Jacobite Era Basket-Hilt sword
• 1150-750BC Gold Ring
  1150-750BC Gold Ring
• Replica of the first bicycle designed by Kirkpatrick Macmillan
  Replica of the first bicycle designed by Kirkpatrick Macmillan
• Child's Ring Roman Period
  Child's Ring Roman Period

External links

• Dumfries Museum Home Page

• Dumfries Museum at Dumfries and Galloway Council website

• Dumfries Museum on Future Museum

• Dumfries Museum on Undiscovered Scotland