Museum blog

On the 21st August this year, the rarest of cosmic events, a total eclipse of the Sun, will cast a shadow across the USA.  In celebration, the Royal Institution is playing host to Professor Frank Close for an evening lecture (Tuesday 25 July, 7-8.30pm) where he will describe why eclipses happen, their role in history and myth and reveal the spellbinding allure of this most beautiful natural phenomenon.  We are pleased to offer a discount of 25% for members of the Royal Observatory off the £14 ticket price when booking here 

Many of the common seamen of Nelson’s time were not literate, meaning letters of the ‘Lower deck’ are rare. Nelson probably received a great deal of correspondence asking for help or influence of one kind or another, but was his reputation for benevolence towards those that had served under him sometimes exploited or taken advantage of? 

The Caird Library has recently installed a new display of archive and library material. The theme is Medicine and Health at Sea and reveals the main diseases particularly prominent during long sea voyages. These included scurvy and yellow fever.

Every month, Documentations Officer Claire Denham takes us behind the scenes at Cutty Sark to give us an insight into the important daily research, documentation and maintenance work that keeps the ship preserved for many future generations to come.

One hundred and twelve years ago on the 27 May 1905 the Imperial Japanese Navy achieved a major victory at the Battle of Tsushima, destroying or capturing much of the Russian fleet that had sailed 18,000 nautical miles from the Baltic in an attempt to reinforce the Russian Pacific Squadron at Port Arthur.

Artist Gladys E. Reed, who served in the Wrens during the Second World War, would be turning 100 this week. Here, Art Curator Melanie Vandenbrouck discusses her wartime drawings.  

Conservator Lauren Ashley-Irvine tells us about her work on this important collection