History

Passing the torch

History is not, of course 'just one thing after another', as one of the characters in Alan Bennett's 'The History Boys' puts it. It plays a fundamental role in shaping the nature of the present and the possibilities of the future. More basically put, history is a collection of stories. And the history of Scotland is filled with incredible stories: romances, tragedies, mysteries, thrillers – we've got the lot!

But the survival of these stories depends very much on 'the way we tell them' to future generations, and this is something that Scotland's heritage industry has really woken up to. Today our museums and visitor centres employ the skills and techniques of a myriad of designers, architects, curators, academics, writers, artists, model makers, digital animators and actors to bring our past to life.

Yesterday's news today

While the great classical museums are in Glasgow and Edinburgh, no country ever started life in its conurbations. If you want to dig deep into Scotland's past you have to look outside the big cities. . . .

On the island of Orkney the SKARA BRAE VISITOR CENTRE brings Neolithic life in northern Europe – a world older than the pyramids – thrillingly alive. In the Highlands there is the INVERNESS MUSEUM, Strathpeffer's HIGHLAND MUSEUM OF CHILDHOOD, while, at NEWTONMORE HIGHLAND FOLK MUSEUM, a Scottish township from the 1700's is made to live and breathe again.

Further south, similar techniques are employed at NEW LANARK MILL in the Clyde Valley, where a combination of painstaking restoration and cutting-edge technology are used to recreate Victorian-era Scotland. These days going to a museum can be closer to seeing a West End show than looking at rows of dusty artefacts under glass!

But it's not all high tech. Thanks to Hollywood and films like Braveheart and Rob Roy millions of people have some idea of the bloodier side of Scottish history. But celluloid is one thing; it's quite another to experience it in the flesh: BANNOCKBURN, CULLODEN, GLENCOE . . . the very names themselves stir the senses, conjuring up images of courage, terror, brutality and honour.

Today, these places still bear the imprint of the events they witnessed and all have their own dedicated visitor centres, with Glencoe recently receiving a Gold Award for Green Tourism, in recognition of its eco-friendly design.

So, whether it's state-of-the-art museums, or the simple act of putting your walking boots on and standing amid the eerie stillness of Glencoe or Culloden on a misty autumn morning, there are many ways to experience Scotland's living history. See for yourself. . . .

  • Voices of Scotland

    March 2007

    Voices of Scotland We offer a glimpse of some of the greatest Scottish poets – past and present.

  • paul strand

    December 2006

    Paul Strand in South Uist Strand took an iconic black and white photo of a young Katie Morag in 1954. We hear the story behind the picture.

  • edinburgh castle

    December 2006

    Edinburgh Castle: Ageless Beauty We look at the history of the castle and the famous Edinburgh events which use it as an iconic backdrop.