Located within Edinburgh Castle, the National War Museum (previously known as the Scottish United Services Museum) became part of the National Museums of Scotland in 1985. It has been subject to a major refurbishment reopening in April, 2000.
The collections embrace all of the armed services, and include uniforms, weapons, medals, documents and photographs. There are three flags carried at the Battle of Culloden (1746). The medals include several Victoria Crosses, and groups of decorations belonging to, for example, General Sir David Baird (1757 - 1829). Somewhat incongruously, the museum also houses honours belonging to scientist Sir Alexander Fleming, including his Nobel Prize for Medicine, won in 1945. Also amongst the collection are works by Scottish artists such as Robert Gibb (1845 - 1932), Robert Gemmell Hutchison (1855 - 1936) and Francis Cadell (1883 - 1937).
The Museum is Scotland's principal military history research resource.
An equestrian statue of Field Marshal Douglas Haig (1861 - 1928) by G.W. Wade is located in Hospital Square, close to the museum. This was presented to Edinburgh Corporation in 1923 by a wealthy Bombay businessman Sir Dhumjibhoy Bomanzi (1862 - 1937), who had known and admired Haig. It was moved to its present location in 2011 and rededicated by HRH The Princess Royal.
