Perth Museum welcomed its 500,000th visitor this week, just 27 months after opening in March 2024, significantly exceeding its original annual target of 167,000 visitors. The lucky visitors, Mary Drew and Susan Kendall from Norwich, received a gift bag of museum souvenirs to mark the occasion.
Visitor Reactions and Milestone Celebrations
Mary Drew and Susan Kendall said: “What a wonderful surprise on our visit to the museum today. It’s such a beautiful, bright and airy space, and the café was fantastic as well. It’s brilliant that this museum is free for all to enter.”
Sandie Dawe, co-chair of Culture Perth and Kinross’ Board of Trustees, stated: “We are delighted to celebrate Perth Museum welcoming over half a million visitors this week, an extraordinary milestone made even more meaningful by the incredible support of communities, residents, schools, partners, and visitors from further afield. This achievement belongs to all who have engaged, contributed, and championed the museum.”
Community and Council Support
James Findlay, KC, co-chair of the Board of Trustees, added: “Reaching this milestone as we mark ten years of Culture Perth and Kinross is a testament to what can be achieved when culture is led by and for the community it serves. Both Sandie and I are honoured to lead the Board, and we are proud of the strong relationship we have with Perth and Kinross Council, whose continued support we gratefully acknowledge.”
Perth and Kinross Council leader Councillor Eric Drysdale commented: “Reaching 500,000 visitors in such a short space of time is a truly remarkable achievement for Perth Museum. When the Museum opened at the end of March 2024 it was hoped it would attract 167,000 visitors a year. To have exceeded that target is testament to the vision behind the transformation of the former City Hall, the dedication of the team at Culture Perth and Kinross and, of course, the ongoing support of our communities. Perth Museum is playing a vital role in bringing more people into our city, supporting local businesses, and strengthening Perth’s reputation as a vibrant cultural destination. Hitting the 500,000-visitor mark so soon underlines just how important this investment has been.”
Exhibitions and The Stone of Destiny
Since opening, Perth Museum has hosted several high-profile exhibitions. The current display, Vennels: Perth’s Little Streets, developed in partnership with Perth City of Craft, explores the secrets of narrow lanes that have shaped the city for centuries. Earlier this year, the museum presented The Last Letter of Mary, Queen of Scots on loan from the National Library of Scotland, which attracted more than 34,000 visitors during its run. Other exhibitions include Macbeth, Waters Rising, Perthshire Illustrated, and Unicorn, the latter winning the Museums Association Museums Change Lives Championing Social Justice Award in 2024.
The museum is famously home to The Stone of Destiny, which returned to Perthshire after 700 years in 2024. More than 140,000 visitors have experienced it within a state-of-the-art immersive experience. The stone, an ancient symbol of Scottish monarchy, is still used to crown kings and queens of the United Kingdom.
Media Coverage and Awards
Perth Museum has attracted extensive media coverage, featuring on BBC, ITV, Scottish Field, The Herald, The Scotsman, The National, and internationally in The Washington Post and Smithsonian. It was the only Scottish finalist for the Art Fund Museum of the Year 2025 and has won Small Regeneration Project of the Year at the Scottish Property Awards 2025, Best Travel PR Campaign at the Roxhill Media Awards, and Best Civic Brand Identity at the Scottish Design Awards 2024.
Perth Museum is managed by charitable trust Culture Perth and Kinross, which is also celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. The museum is open seven days a week, and Vennels: Perth’s Little Streets runs until Sunday, September 6. Admission is free for all; donations are encouraged.
