McLean Museum, Greenock

I was completely fascinated to visit the new McLean Museum in 2008. It's in the same building as the Watt Library; in fact, as a child I used to go up the old stone stairs at the back of the library which would take me to the gallery where the natural history museum was in those days. Usually it was deserted and I would wander round and round for ages looking at the stuffed animals, birds' eggs, butterflies, insects and many other interesting things. Now the building has been renovated and modernised and it is quite different. The old staircase isn't used any more (though it is still there behind a door - I was shown where it was when I asked where it had gone!) Some of the old features remain (and some of the original stuffed animals too) but there are many new categories - not just natural history but collections from many cultures across the centuries, industrial, marine, local and social history. There is a great deal to see and I need to return when there is more time (and my poor husband isn't having to wait for me in the car)!

Here is the link to the McLean Museum website