The oldest museum in the U.K. has a wide-ranging collection of more than half a million objects.
The Perth Art Gallery and Museum houses an extensive collection of artifacts related to art, natural history, archaeology and the town’s local history. Set in a grand 19th-century building, the museum presents an interesting overview of local life through the centuries, in addition to exploring culture and nature around the world. See animal paintings by Sir Edwin Landseer, historic photographs of the town, taxidermied animal specimens and Bronze Age flints, in addition to engaging temporary exhibitions.
The museum building was inspired by Rome’s Pantheon. Designed by David Morison, the building was completed in 1824 and was one of the first purpose-built museum buildings in the United Kingdom. Step inside the beautiful neoclassical interior and look up at the gorgeous glass dome decorating the main reception area. Don’t miss the 8th-century Pictish St. Madoes cross-slab, set just before the entrance to the galleries.
The museum’s art collection features works by Scottish artists from the 19th century through to the present day, as well as some works by the European Old Masters. Look for watercolor botanical studies of fungi by Beatrix Potter as well as John Everett Millais’s portrait of his Perth-born wife. View Horatio McCulloch’s famous work Loch Katrine, a wonderful representation of Scotland in the 19th century. The modern collection includes works by prominent Scottish artists such as Joan Eardley and Joyce Cairns.
Admire the excellent photography collection, comprised of more than 150,000 images. The photographs are a valuable record of everyday life in Perth and Perthshire from the 1850s through to modern times. The collection includes around 2,500 glass plate negatives from the 19th century, which are some of the earliest photographs of the town.
The Perth Art Gallery and Museum is open Tuesday to Saturday year-round, as well as Sundays from March to October. Admission is free. The museum is set toward the northeastern area of central Perth and can be reached on foot from most parts of town. Parking garages and street parking are available nearby. Spend a day immersing yourself in the varied exhibits of this historic museum.
