Celebrate World Heritage Day with fun free event at the National Museum of Scotland
The National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh is hosting a fun, free, interactive event to celebrate World Heritage Day next Monday.
Run by new heritage body, Historic Environment Scotland, the family-friendly event will give visitors the opportunity to be transported back to the Antonine Wall 1800 years ago, to see what it was like when the Romans first built it; or take a virtual tour of Maeshowe Neolithic chambered cairn in Orkney – using the latest in cutting edge virtual reality headset technology.
For a taste of what life was like in one of Britain’s most revolutionary working mills, visitors can dress up as an authentic 19th century mill worker from New Lanark, and hear from the experts what life would have been like in one of the country’s most progressive factory sites.
For those who wish to try out their creative skills, there is a wide range of craft activities to take part in, from trying your hand at making a Roman laurel wreath or helmet, to building a replica of a St Kildan mail boat, which the inhabitants of the remote island of St Kilda would launch into the sea with letters sealed inside, hoping they would be found and the letters delivered– before the island was eventually abandoned in 1930.
Alice Lyall, World Heritage Site Coordinator for Historic Environment Scotland, said: “Scotland has an incredible range of World Heritage Sites, from industrial age wonders like the Forth Bridge and New Lanark mill village, to the much older Antonine Wall and Heart of Neolithic Orkney, and from the architectural wonders of Edinburgh’s Old and New Towns, to the rugged natural beauty, rich wildlife and abandoned settlement of the island of St Kilda – we really have got a bit of everything here (above).
“World Heritage Day is a great opportunity to highlight these fascinating and diverse sites, and help to raise awareness and educate people on the importance of them, to ensure they are protected and celebrated for many years to come!”
World Heritage Day is on Monday 18 April 2016, the event will run from 11am – 4pm and entrance is free and non-ticketed.
For more information contact the World Heritage Coordination Team on 0131 668 8763 or email worldheritage@hes.scot
Images: Historic Environment Scotland
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