The Marischal Museum once filled the galleries of Marischal College, a monumental granite building in the heart of Aberdeen. The large 5-floor building now contains the headquarters of the Aberdeen City Council and is still seen to be an icon of Granite City, the name by which Aberdeen was known during the peak of its granite-working boom. While access to the building is limited to special ceremonies and civic functions, you can still admire its immense size and magnificent architecture from the street.
The museum building stretches across a city block downtown. Stroll along its grassy forecourt and take some time to appreciate the mesmerizing glint of the granite stonework. Construction of the large college building began in 1835, but was not completed until the early 1900s.The impressive piece of Victorian Gothic-revival architecture is distinctive for its astonishing symmetry and the richly decorated elements of its façade. Admire the series of beautifully carved granite pinnacles that lace the top of the structure. You’ll see the tall southern tower of the Marischal Museum frontage, which is topped with a distinctive spire.
You can see a small, curated selection of the collections once housed in Marischal Museum at the King’s Museum, located within the University of Aberdeen. King’s Museum showcases a fascinating collection of Egyptian and Classical antiquities, as well as relics from prehistoric Scotland and non-Western ethnographical artifacts.
The Marischal Museum is situated at the rear of Marischal College in downtown Aberdeen. It is an easy walk from most central city locations. A local bus route passes by the building and metered parking is available on the surrounding streets. You can check out Marischal Museum from the outside at any time of the day for free. Nearby, you’ll find the city’s quay, Union Square, the Aberdeen Maritime Museum and the Kirk of St. Nicholas.
