Dumfries Museum and Camera Obscura, located in Dumfries in Dumfries & Galloway, is the largest museum in the region. The museum has extensive collections relating to local and history from the pre-historic era. The museum also has the world's oldest working Camera Obscura. Admission is free, however a small fee applies for the Camera Obscura.

Dumfries Museum and Camera Obscura
Exterior view of the Camera Obscura
Map
General information
Architectural styleVictorian and modern
Town or cityDumfries
CountryScotland
Coordinates55°03′55″N 3°36′53″W / 55.0652°N 3.6146°W / 55.0652; -3.6146
Renovated2011

Collections

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The museum's collections cover all material relating to the natural history and human pre-history of the region, from geology to dress, folk material, archaeology and early photographs.[1]

Notable artefacts include:

History

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Originally built as a four-storey windmill on Corbelly hill, the highest point in Maxwelltown, in 1798, the site was purchased by Dumfries and Maxwellton Astronomical Society in 1834.[10] Over a two-year period the tower was converted into an Observatory,[11] and with advice from polar explorer Sir John Ross, a telescope was purchased from a Mr Morton of Kilmarnock. With its completion in 1836, unfortunately the observatory missed the arrival of Halley's comet; however, it was used in this role until 1872.

The main hall of the museum was built in 1862, and housed the collections of the newly founded Dumfries and Galloway Natural History & Antiquarian Society. In 1981 a major addition of a new gallery, shop, search room and offices for curatorial staff was added. In 2011 the exterior of the windmill tower was refurbished.[12]

Camera Obscura

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The camera obscura is currently the oldest working example in the world, and has been in continuous operation since 1836.[13] The instrument, based in the top level of the windmill tower, offers a complete 360° panorama of the surrounding landscape. The image is projected onto a focusing table below, and operated using a simple rope mechanism.[14] In order to protect the instrument it is only operated during the summer months and on days when weather conditions are clear.[15] The museums photographic expert for thirty years was Werner Kissling who donated his photos to the museum when he died.[16]

References

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The focus table of the camera obscura with an image of part of Dumfries projected onto it
  1. ^ "Dumfries Museum & Camera Obscura".
  2. ^ "Robert the Bruce, cast of his skull".
  3. ^ "Cist burial, Mainsriddle, Colvend and Southwick".
  4. ^ "Ritual and religion".
  5. ^ "Early Christians".
  6. ^ "Replica of Kirkpatrick Macmillan's bicycle".
  7. ^ "Dr Werner Kissling".
  8. ^ "Thomas Carlyle".
  9. ^ Jardine, Sir William (1853). The Ichnology of Annandale or Illustrations of Footmarks Impressed on the New Red Sandstone of Corncockle Muir.
  10. ^ "I like – Happy to be a part of the industry of human happiness".
  11. ^ "History of the Burgh of Dumfries".
  12. ^ "Dumfries Museum & Camera Obscura Feature Page on Undiscovered Scotland".
  13. ^ "Dumfries Museum and Camera Obscura, Dumfries – Museums".
  14. ^ "I like – Happy to be a part of the industry of human happiness".
  15. ^ "Dumfries Museum - DG Culture | Dumfries and Galloway Culture | Museums and galleries - Dumfries and Galloway Council | Festivals | Events | Exhibitions | Whats on Dumfries and Galloway".
  16. ^ "Dr Werner Kissling". www.futuremuseum.co.uk. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
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