Perth brings history to life for museums celebration weekend

Fearsome creatures and armies grace the Fair City

Dinosaurs and Jacobites were brought to life for a spectacular weekend of living history in Perth.

Two of the city’s best-loved visitor attractions hosted events as part of Scotland’s Festival of Museums.

There was an adults-only Night At The Museum-style event involving acrobatics and prehistoric beasts, while Balhousie Castle, home of The Black Watch Museum, hosted a clash between Jacobite armies and Government Redcoats.

The shows were part of more than 100 activities being held across Scotland to celebrate the country’s museums and galleries.

Visitors to Balhousie got the chance on Saturday to meet battle re-enactment teams and learn how to fire a musket, wield a broadsword and take part in a heroic Highland charge.

They also got the chance to tour the galleries and get up close to some fascinating artefacts from the venue’s collection.

Charlie Trzeciak, the museum’s learning and audiences officer, said: “Our Jacobite and Redcoat event was full of interactive fun for all ages and included the chance to meet the soldiers and experience a narrated slow-motion demonstration of the Highland charge.”

The Perth Museum and Art Gallery on George Street hosted two events on Saturday, starting with a dinosaur hunt in the afternoon offering families a range of puzzles and activities.

In the evening grown-ups were invited to an after-hours experience with an acrobatics display, a virtual reality dinosaur game and a silent disco. There were also expert talks.

Pictures: Phil Hannah. Roaring success: Dino Night at Perth Museum and Art Gallery went down well.

The battle re-enactment team were on hand at Balhousie Castle to meet visitors.