Dinosaurs, Dolly & A Game of Chess

Birthday Adventure 2024 in Auld Reekie continued with a scavenger hunt at the National Museum of Scotland.

Our visit to the museum wasn’t just a leisurely stroll among the exhibits. We turned it into an exhilarating scavenger hunt, adding an extra layer of excitement to our museum adventure.

Before we set out, we delved into the museum’s collection, each of us contributing to the list of items we wanted to find. It was a true testament to our shared excitement and individual knowledge, making us feel valued and included in the adventure.

The following items made the list:

The Lewis chess pieces
Dolly the sheep
Mary, Queen of Scots 
T-Rex
Spacesuit

The stakes were high for this hunt. The losers had to buy the winner’s dinner. Edinburgh’s wide selection of delicious restaurants made winning this hunt a must. My stomach was craving a meal at one of Edinburgh’s Michelin-starred restaurants.

Sadly, our visit didn’t coincide with Game On, the largest interactive exhibition showcasing the history and culture of video games. I would have been thrilled to meet the creators of Grand Theft Auto and delve into the gaming industry’s rich history.

Before going to the museum, we encountered an issue at our Airbnb: the front door wouldn’t lock. Our host promptly responded and came over to the Airbnb.

Not keen to leave our accommodations and belongings unattended, I stayed behind and awaited our host’s arrival to resolve the issue.

Fifteen minutes later, the door issue was resolved, and I headed to the museum.

Edinburgh is a very walkable city. I usually take the bus only if the walk is more than 30 minutes to my destination, but since it was a nice day, I decided to walk.

Okay, let’s be honest – I needed the exercise after indulging in all that delicious street food.

GREYFRIARS BOBBY

My route took me past the Greyfriars Bobby statue.

As I passed the Greyfriars Bobby statue, I couldn’t help but be charmed by the story of this loyal Skye Terrier. His unwavering loyalty to his owner, John Gray, even after Gray’s death, is a testament to the bond between humans and animals, adding a touch of charm and beauty to our Edinburgh adventure.

Charmed by the story, Baroness Angelia Georgina Burdett-Coutts worked to erect a statue of Bobby. The statue now sits at the corner of Candlemaker Row and George IV Bridge.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SCOTLAND

I embraced the museum’s history and entered through the Tower Entrance, exploring the rich heritage of the Kingdom of the Scots.

Meanwhile, Laura and Maria embarked on their own journey as they entered through the Main Entrance, leading them to the captivating Grand Gallery.

Let the hunt begin!

The thrill of the hunt was palpable as I navigated the museum, my eyes scanning every exhibit in search of the items on our list.

The Airbnb issue and my short visit to the Greyfriars Bobby statue gave Laura and Maria a 15-minute head start. By the time I entered the museum, they’d already found the T-Rex and Dolly.

If you don’t remember, Dolly the sheep was the first cloned mammal created from an adult cell.

Fortunately, by entering via the Tower, I found the Mary, Queen of Scots’s collection and the Lewis Chess Pieces. The eleven chess pieces displayed at the Museum of Scotland are part of a collection of 93 gaming pieces. The other 82 pieces are exhibited at the British Museum.

We bumped into each other in the Science and Technology gallery.

Here, I found the Space Suit.

The Science and Technology gallery was my favorite because it contains hands-on activities and interactive exhibits.

The telecommunications section was fantastic. Viewing the evolution of the telephone was eye-opening.

Knowing that technology has advanced quickly in the last twenty years is even more impressive when you see with your own eyes how the mobile phone you had two years ago is already obsolete.

With our hunt officially completed, we ventured through the museum, immersing ourselves in a labyrinth of treasures and absorbing knowledge along the way. It was an enriching experience that left us with a profound appreciation for history, culture and science.