Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery

Founded in 1807, The Hunterian is Scotland's oldest public museum and home to one of the largest collections outside the National Museums. The Hunterian is one of the leading university museums in the UK and its collections have been Recognised as a Collection of National Significance. It is one of Scotland’s most important cultural assets. 

Built on Dr William Hunter’s founding bequest, The Hunterian collections include scientific instruments used by James Watt, Joseph Lister and Lord Kelvin; outstanding Roman artefacts from the Antonine Wall; major natural and life sciences holdings; Hunter’s own extensive anatomical teaching collection; one of the world’s greatest numismatic collections; impressive ethnographic objects from Captain Cook’s Pacific voyages and a major art collection.

The Hunterian is also home to the world’s largest permanent display of the work of James McNeill Whistler, the largest single holding of the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and The Mackintosh House, the reassembled interiors from his Glasgow home.

The Hunterian continues in its Age on Enlightenment mission to be a central resource for research and teaching in the arts, humanities and natural and medical sciences, attracting scholars and visitors from around the world.

You can find out more in our new film, produced by Glasgow City Marketing Bureau to highlight the recent refurbishment of The Hunterian Art Gallery, the exciting collections at The Hunterian Museum and the new free guided tours at The Mackintosh House.

Exhibitions and events

The Mackintosh House

Permanent exhibition

The Hunterian Art Gallery houses one of the most important collections of the work of Scottish architect, designer and artist, Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1868-1928) and his artist-wife, Margaret...

Hunterian Art Gallery

Permanent exhibition

The Hunterian Art Gallery boasts one of the most distinguished public art collections in Scotland. Its permanent displays include works ranging from Rubens and Rembrandt to the Scottish Colourists...

Lord Kelvin: Revolutionary Scientist

Permanent exhibition

This permanent display is based around the life and work of William Thomson, or Lord Kelvin, Glasgow's greatest scientist. ‘Lord Kelvin: Revolutionary Scientist’ uses The Hunterian's world-famous...

A Healing Passion: Medicine in Glasgow Past and Present

Permanent exhibition

The Hunterian was built on the founding bequest of Dr William Hunter whose medical collections were the core of his career, museum and success. ‘A Healing Passion’ is a permanent display dedicated...

The Antonine Wall: Rome's Final Frontier

Permanent exhibition

Built around AD 142 in the reign of the Roman emperor Antoninus Pius, the Antonine Wall ran coast-to-coast across Scotland from the Clyde to the Firth of Forth. This permanent gallery at the...

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Collections

Hunterian Items

36888 objects

Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery

47 objects