Saturday September 27th 2008 sees the National Archives of Scotland throw open its doors to the general public for free from 9.00am to 5.00pm. Having recently undergone a major facelift (ie conservation and renovation!) in preparation for the new ScotlandsPeople Centre, which will be mainly housed in the building, this is a thoroughly recommended day trip!
The NAS website gives more detail on the day:
On Doors Open Day, come and visit the newly-refurbished General Register House, home to the National Archives of Scotland. Robert Adam’s neo-classical masterpiece, begun in 1774, has been given a makeover to accommodate the major part of the new ScotlandsPeople Centre for Scottish family history.
The centrepiece is the restored rotunda or dome (1789), which Adam modelled on the Pantheon in Rome. In the dome you can admire the rare statue of George III (1794), which has been cleaned and conserved. Register House also boasts another rotunda, originally for storing records. A third rotunda can be seen next door in New Register House (Robert Matheson, 1861), which houses the General Register Office for Scotland, the Court of the Lord Lyon, and part of the family history centre. New Register House will also be open.
Activities in General Register House will include:
Learning about the resources of the ScotlandsPeople Centre ‘Records Roadshow’ – bring along any documents if you want some expert advice from our archivists.
Display of rare printed items and the original ‘licence to print’ to mark the 500th anniversary of printing in Scotland
Education activities for children
Conservation display – how books are made
Please note that contrary to our entry in the official Doors Open Day brochure, we are not able to offer refreshments or free parking! We apologise in advance for any disappointment.
(Many thanks to Alison Springs of the Glasgow LDS Family History Centre)
Chris
www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk
Scotland's Greatest Story
Professional family history research & genealogical problem solving
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