ELGIN Museum is among a top 10 'Must see' attractions in Scotland.
A rare collection of palaentology and fossils makes it one of the top attractions in the country.
Scottish Government Minister Humza Yousafhas urged Scots to visit the collection.
Across the country there are 38 ‘Recognised Collections of National Significance’, held in local and regional museums.
The palaeontology and fossil collection at Elgin Museum comprises 900 specimens, including some of special value to science.
The Grade A listed Elgin Museum is probably Scotland’s oldest independent museum. Most of its founders had a particular interest in the fossils of the region, and their collection was one of the stimuli for the building of the present Elgin Museum in 1843.
These local amateurs then engaged with leading geologists and palaeontologists to place Elgin Museum at the forefront of the understanding of the sequence of rocks and evolution. The collection has been an important focus of international research from then until the present day.
Managed by Museums Galleries Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government, the Recognition Scheme identifies and supports the most important, best-quality collections of historic artefacts and artworks in Scotland’s local and regional museums and galleries.
Mr Yousaf said: "Our Recognised Collections contain some of Scotland’s most important, best quality historic artefacts and artworks. The Palaeontology and Fossil Collection at Elgin is no exception."
Museums Galleries Scotland chief executive Joanne Orr said: "In Scotland we enjoy some of the finest museum collections in the world.
"The Recognised Collections represent the absolute best of what some of our museums and galleries have to offer."
To find out the other top ten attractions in Scotland, see 'The Northern Scot' print version.
