Museum of Edinburgh, Local authority museum in Old Town, Edinburgh, Scotland
The Museum of Edinburgh is a local authority museum housed in Huntly House on the Canongate, a historic street in the Old Town. The building is made up of several joined townhouses from different periods, which gives it an irregular layout spread across multiple floors.
Huntly House was built in the 16th century as a private residence for wealthy Edinburgh citizens. It was later converted into a museum, opening to the public in 1932.
The collection holds silver objects made by Edinburgh craftsmen and glass pieces that show what local trades looked like over the centuries. These everyday objects give a clear sense of how skilled work shaped life in the city.
The museum is on the Canongate, along the lower part of the Royal Mile, within walking distance of many other sites in the historic center. A visit to the main rooms takes around an hour, though you can spend more time if you follow the collections in detail.
The building earned the nickname 'Speaking House' because Latin phrases are carved directly into its facade. These inscriptions date from medieval times and make it one of the few buildings along the Royal Mile that still carries original carved text on its outer walls.
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