Housed in an eye-catching and innovative building by the internationally acclaimed architect, Zaha Hadid, the Riverside Museum provides a unique insight on the story of Glasgow and its important role in the development of transport and technology.
The new museum brings the transport collections previously
housed at the Kelvin Hall, and elsewhere, back onto the waterfront
where many ships and locomotive engines began long journeys
overseas. The Riverside Museum opened on 21 June 2011.
Alongside it, Glasgow's Tall Ship, Glenlee is attracting attention in
its new berth at Kelvin Harbour.
You can arrive at the museum by taking the ferry across the
river from Govan.
Entry to both the museum and the Tall Ship is free.
Out and about the Compass on the Clyde heritage trail is a
great way to explore the history and heritage of the river.
The development is situated where the River Clyde meets
Glasgow's other main river, the Kelvin, next to the Glasgow
Harbour development.
What's inside?
Inside, Riverside Museum shows off the breadth of Glasgow's
world-class collection through its multidisciplinary story
displays, a radical approach to museum interpretation that
prioritises the visitor and puts people at the heart of the
exhibits. This method was pioneered at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and
Museum during its recent refurbishment.
Riverside challenges traditional expectations of a museum. Using
around 3000 objects from across the city's collection, archive film
and photographs, and a vast amount of personal experiences and
memories, the museum reveals the rich and varied stories of
Glasgow's great achievements and vibrant spirit; of technological
breakthroughs and heartbreaking tragedies; of local heroes and
global giants. As you'd expect in such a high-tech museum, many of
these stories are delivered through audiovisual displays, hands-on
interactives and digital touch-screens. Some of these touch-screens
give visitors the opportunity to offer feedback on the museum and
influence future displays.
Visitors will see a zebra next to a warship; vintage dresses in
front of trams; bats beside a glider; paintings and pottery
alongside ship models; televisions next to motorcars; pistols and
blunderbusses; posters and pamphlets; skateboards and prams;
stuffed animals; Barbie dolls; and much, much more.
Accompanying these displays are the personal experiences,
memories and stories of hundreds of men, women, children and
teenagers. Visitors will learn about inventors, paramedics, tram
drivers, new mums, pilots, schoolchildren, café owners, clippies,
firefighters, skateboarders, dancers, refugees, teenagers, racing
champions, ship captains, and so on.
Some of the objects are no stranger to the public eye: Audrey
Hepburn's dress (designed by Paco Rabanne) as worn in Two For The
Road; Colin McRae's Subaru Impreza from his 1995 World Rally
Championship win; Stanley Spencer's epic Clydeside murals from
World War II; Robbie Coltrane's Chrysler Jeep; Graeme Obree's
record-breaking bicycles; Danny MacAskill's YouTube famed bike;
Alex Kapranos's iconic Lambretta; Dave MacLeod's gravity-defying
climbing boots.
Visitors will be able to board two subway cars, three trams,
four locomotive footplates, one train carriage and one bus
and meander down the museum's three re-created streets
(spanning 1895-1980).
Also at Queen's Dock and Yorkhill Quay (Back to listing)