EDINBURGH. Art Galleries, Libraries and Museums

Canongate Tolbooth

Situated in the Canongate part of the Royal Mile, this building is an interesting survival of municipal architecture in the 16th century. It was built in 1591, and contains a hall which served the dual purpose of Council Room and Courthouse with cells below. It is now a city museum containing, among other items, the J. Telfer Dunbar collection of Highland dress. The Tolbooth frequently houses special exhibitions.

Central Library

Situated on the west side of George IV Bridge, this library has extensive collections for borrowing and for reference. Of particular interest to visitors, the Edinburgh Room contains maps, prints, photographs, colour transparencies, books, periodicals, newspapers and press cuttings tracing the history of the city from earliest times to the present day. The Scottish Department has a collection of similar materials relating to the whole of Scotland and a comprehensive section of family histories. The Central Library also has special collections of music and fine art.

City Art Centre

The City Art Centre, 1-4 Market Street, shows changing displays from the Council's art collection as well as temporary exhibitions of fine and decorative art, both historical and contemporary. The collection covers Scottish painting from Ramsay to Gillies with an emphasis on local artists. Approximately half the collection is of topographical works of local interest. A collection of Scottish painting of the early twentieth century, presented to the city in 1964 by the Scottish Modern Arts Association, is an important aspect. The Jean F. Watson Fund has been used to augment this collection and in particular to purchase works by contemporary artists.

In addition to galleries there are three artists' studios; a multi-purpose room for talks, films etc. and a licensed cafe in the building.

Huntly House

Opposite the Tolbooth is Huntly House, a reconstructed town dwelling of 1517, now the principal museum of local history. It contains many illuminating illustrations of life in Edinburgh down the ages, and items of historic interest such as a copy of the National Covenant signed at Greyfriars Church on 28th February 1638. The museum also houses a collection of items relating to Field-Marshal Earl Haig.

Lady Stair's House

Lady Stair's House, on the left side of the Lawnmarket going down the Royal Mile from the Castle, was built in 1622 by Sir William Gray of Pittendrum as a town house for himself and his wife. In the early 18th century the Countess of Stair owned it, and the house takes its name from this lady who was the widow of the first Earl of Stair. The house now belongs to The City of Edinburgh District Council and contains important collections of manuscripts and relics of three famous figures in Scottish literature, Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and R. L. Stevenson.

Lauriston Castle

Lauriston Castle, situated at Davidson's Mains, about five miles from the centre of the city, has a turreted and corbelled 16th century tower. Sir Archibald Napier built it about 1590 and it remained substantially unaltered until acquired in 1823 by Thomas Allan, an Edinburgh advocate and banker, from a descendant of John Law of Lauriston (''Mississippi Law'') whose family had owned the castle for 140 years. It is now a country mansion of great charm, standing in beautiful grounds overlooking the Firth of Forth, and it contains fine furniture, Flemish tapestries, ''Blue John'' ware, etc.

Museum of Childhood

This unique museum is situated in Hyndford's Close, High Street, almost opposite John Knox's House. It has an extremely large collection of historical toys, books, costumes, dolls, pictures and other items relating to childhood in the past, and it also deals with children's customs, hobbies, occupations, health, upbringing and education.

National Gallery of Scotland

Opened in 1859 the National Gallery of Scotland, at the foot of the Mound, Princes Street, is one of the more important of the smaller galleries of Europe. Although there is an important section devoted to Scottish artists, the greater part of the collection consists of works by Continental and English masters from the 14th century to Cezanne.

National Library of Scotland

The library in George IV Bridge, founded in 1682 by the Faculty of Advocates, has enjoyed the privilege of copyright deposit since 1710. With nearly 4,500,000 books and an extensive collection of manuscripts it is one of the four largest libraries in Great Britain.

National Museum of Antiquities

Situated in the same building as the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, this interesting museum contains the most representative collection of the history and everyday life of Scotland from the Stone Age to modern times.

The Netherbow

Situated beside John Knox's House, in the Royal Mile, the Netherbow is the Church of Scotland's Arts Centre.

Exhibitions of paintings, drawings and photographs are held regularly.

Royal Scottish Academy

The Royal Scottish Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture at the Mound, Princes Street, was established in 1826 to promote the Fine Arts in Scotland. Since 1827, the Academy has presented an unbroken succession of Annual Exhibitions of the work of its elected members and of other contemporary artists. This, running from late April to early August, is followed by a special Exhibition during each year's Edinburgh International Festival.

Royal Scottish Museum

A national institution administered by the Scottish Education Department, this museum is situated in Chambers Street. It houses the national collections of decorative arts of the world, archaeology, ethnography, natural history, geology, technology and science. Its displays range from primitive art to space material, from ceramics to fossils, from birds to working models in the Hall of Power. It contains items of importance in all fields. Additional major displays are in course of preparation. The Main Hall is of architectural interest. Temporary exhibitions. Lectures, films, gallery talks at advertised times.

The Fruit Market Gallery

Exhibitions of work by contemporary artists.

Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Inverleith House

This temporary home for the national collection of 20th-century painting, sculpture and graphic art was opened in 1960. Many of the most significant modern artists are represented, including Picasso, Matisse, Giacometti, Moore and Hepworth. There is a fine selection of contemporary Scottish artists, and a programme of changing exhibitions. Some sculpture is displayed in the Garden adjacent to Inverleith House which occupies the highest point in the Royal Botanic Garden and commands a magnificent view of the Edinburgh skyline. By 1984 the collection should be housed in the former John Watson's School which is being converted into an art museum.

Scottish National Portrait Gallery

Founded in 1882 to ''illustrate Scottish history by likenesses of the chief actors in it''. It contains a fascinating collection of portraits of famous Scots, covering a period from the mid-sixteenth century to the present day. The exterior of the building, which also houses the National Museum of Antiquities in Queen Street (east end), is ornamented with statues of historical characters.

Scottish Record Office

H.M. General Register House, east end of Princes Street, and West Register House, Charlotte Square.

Talbot Rice Art Centre

The Centre is situated in the University's Old College building (corner of South Bridge and Chambers Street). It consists of Playfair's magnificent Georgian gallery, housing the permanently displayed Torrie Collection of 16th and 17th century European painting and sculpture, and an adjacent modern gallery of changing exhibitions.