Perth Museum to launch at Easter with rare Jacobite objects

Opening over Easter weekend in March 2024 after a £26.5m redevelopment project, Perth Museum will tell the story of Perth – Scotland’s first capital.

The museum – a transformation of Perth’s former city hall by Netherlands-based architects Mecanoo – will explore Perth’s role in ancient and modern Scotland via exhibits including Bonnie Prince Charlie’s sword, a rare Jacobite wine glass and the 3,000 year old Carpow Logboat.

The Stone of Destiny, also known as the Stone of Scone, will be the centrepiece of the new museum. The Stone of Destiny is an ancient symbol of Scotland, used in the inauguration of Scottish monarchs and kings and queens of the UK, and was recently used at the coronation of Kings Charles III at London’s Westminster Abbey. It is returning to Perthshire for the first time in more than 700 years, and will be free for the public to view.

"The roots of Perth Museum’s collection are more than 200 years old and this is the first opportunity in all that time to tell the story of Perth and Perthshire spanning 10,000 years of history and to show their deep significance to Scotland’s story" Culture Perth & Kinross CEO Helen Smout told Attractions Management.

"With our internationally significant museum collection we aim to attract visitors from around the world and confirm Scotland’s place as one of the most exciting, dynamic and culturally rich places to visit"

"Perthshire sits at the heart of the Jacobite story so I’m thrilled that Bonnie Prince Charlie’s sword and a rare Jacobite wine glass will go on public display for the very first time. This will be the first time the sword has returned to Scotland since it was made in Perth in 1739"

Perth Museum has been developed through a partnership between Perth and Kinross Council and Culture Perth and Kinross and is supported by £10 million from the UK Government as part of the Tay Cities Region Deal – a £700 million regional investment programme jointly funded by the UK and Scottish governments and regional partners.