News - John Muir's Birthplace

Happy New Year!

06 Jan 2022

We are delighted that John Muir’s Birthplace is the only East Lothian Council Museum open throughout January. We are open Wed – Sat 10am – 5pm (last entry 4.15pm) and Sun 1pm – 5pm (last entry 4.15pm). We are closed Monday and Tuesday. January days can be long and dark, so why not pop in for some peace and quiet and time with nature without facing the January weather!

We are working hard to ensure our building is COVID safe – and more information on how we are doing this can be found here.

We have lots of plans coming together for events linked to Year of Stories, and we have already had some very interesting responses to our Climate Call to Action, so 2022 is shaping up to be an exciting year – watch here fore lots more information when we have it!

..and We’re Open Again!

16 Dec 2021

The issues with our heating system have finally been resolved and we are pleased to announce that we are back on normal winter opening hours. 10am – 5pm Wed – Sat and 1pm – 5pm on Sunday. We are open from now until Christmas Eve. We will then close for the festive season, and reopen on Wednesday 5th January.

We would like to wish all our visitors, both physical and virtual, a peaceful and restful holiday, and looking forward to a more predictable 2022!

Unplanned Closure

04 Dec 2021

Due to faulty heating, John Muir’s Birthplace is currently closed. Please keep an eye on our social media outlets for updates.

Our staff are opening Dunbar Town House Museum and Gallery instead where you can see:

Exhibition – Brrr….Stories from Dunbar’s Outdoor Pool

Exhibition- A Safe Haven

We are also providing our usual local information, souvenirs and enquiry service.

Exhibit with us!

30 Nov 2021

We would like to invite exhibitors from across the UK to be part of a ‘Climate Call to Action’. Combining the best in visual art with a passion for climate change, John Muir’s Birthplace plans to hold a series of exhibitions throughout 2022 to encourage climate action.

We welcome entries from amateurs or professionals working across a diversity of art forms including artists, photographers, makers, crafters and community groups.

Expressions of interest by 4 Jan 2022 to

John Muir’s Birthplace,126 High Street, Dunbar, EH42 1JJ

museumseast@eastlothian.gov.uk

01368 8659899

Counting down to Maths Week

23 Sep 2021

East Lothian Museum Service is delighted to have received funding this year from Maths Week Scotland. In John Muir’s Birthplace we have purchased some scales for families to explore the world of weights an measures – just as John’s Dad would have used in his meal dealership on this site. We also have some old fashioned scales of the type that would have been used in the 19th Century, see how different they are from your kitchen scales today.

Drop in activities are available from 25 September – 3 October, and if you ring us your correct worksheets, we have maths week themed prizes for you. Hone your maths skills and have fun at the same time, what’s not to love!

Scottish Geology Festival 2021

02 Sep 2021

Scottish Geology Festival 1 September to 17 October 2021

Scotland’s iconic landscapes and rugged coastlines have been shaped by the elements over countless millennia. These foundations, the rocks beneath our feet, hold the secrets of our planet’s past, they have influenced our culture and provide an outdoor playground for us to enjoy and discover.

The Scottish Geology Festival 2021 brings you a packed programme of activities from Stranraer to Shetland that will showcase and celebrate Scotland’s geology. Events range from coastal walks to fossil hunting to online talks and even boat trips to Siccar Point, where James Hutton found proof of an ancient Earth. You can explore extinct volcanoes in Edinburgh or the UNESCO Global Geopark in the North West Highlands, find evidence of ancient tropical seas and coral reefs in Fife, and learn how the recent ice age helped shaped our incredible Scottish landscapes; geology isn’t just a thing of the past, but a tool for exploring our future too. More information can be found at https://www.scottishgeologytrust.org/festival/

To explore John Muir’s fascination with Geology, please don’t miss our online exhibition, John Muir and Geology

A Surprise Visit

04 Aug 2021

One of the things we love about working in John Muir’s Birthplace, is that we never know who our next visitor is going to be. Early in August, we were delighted to welcome Janice and David Simpson. Janice had worked with the artist Valentin Znoba to produce the statue of John Muir as a boy now in Dunbar High Street. Janice and David’s son acted as a model for the statue.

It was lovely to be told of how much Valentin Znoba (1929 – 2006) admired John Muir and loved being in Dunbar – especially eating fish and chips!

Janice gifted the maquette of the statue, which can now be seen on the top floor of the Museum to John Muir’s Birthplace. She also made and gifted the beautiful plaster bust of John Muir which can be seen as you enter the Museum on the ground floor. Janice explained to us how she sculpted the hair with her fingers, and how the shoulders of the bust actually represent the mountains John loved so much.

Donate Online!

13 Jul 2021

We have made it even easier for you to help us spread John Muir’s word! You can now donate safely and securely online to help develop new permanent displays in John Muir’s Birthplace. We are currently planning a redisplay of our legacy exhibition on the top floor of the building, bringing the story right up to date. Donations can be made here. All donations go directly to the John Muir Birthplace Charitable Trust, who are responsible for the permanent exhibition and maintenance of the building.

Entrance to John Muir’s Birthplace is free, and we rely on grants and donations for the ongoing development of our displays. Like may similar institutions, our donations have been severely affected by closures in the last year due to the pandemic, every donation makes a difference.

Thank you.

Open 7 days!

01 Jul 2021

We are delighted to announce that for July and August we are finally returning to 7 day a week opening! We will be open Monday to Saturday 10am – 5pm and Sunday 1pm – 5pm. Do pop in for your fix of inspiring John Muir quotes and a step into the tranquillity that only comes from immersing yourself in the natural world.

Our current exhibition, curated by Friends of John Muir’s Birthplace is John Muir, Earth, Planet, Universe which asks questions about our role as individuals in the climate crisis.

Over the summer we are setting a series of challenges for children to complete at home. Our first one can be found here, or pop in for leaflet on what will be happening to keep the little darlings occupied over the summer.

We also have a wide selection of Muir-themed books for sale as well as a curated collection of locally-made gifts, cards and postcards.

We look forward to welcoming you this summer!

Scottish Geology Festival 1 September to 17 October 2021

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