Museums are where we go to discover history, and learn about the past. Despite this, we don’t usually expect them to be relics of a forgotten era themselves. This was the situation that one of Glasgow’s oldest museums, the People’s Palace, unfortunately found itself in this year, and why it is set to close this Sunday (April 14) for three years’ worth of refurbishments.
Last year, it was announced that the People’s Palace was seeking funding for a refresh, and between the owner’s own cash and help from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, it’s managed to pull together the necessary £35.9 million.
The Palace, which spotlights Glasgow’s social history since the late 18th century, has been favoured by primary schools and local history enthusiasts alike since it opened in 1898. Once a steadfast celebration of Glaswegian culture, it has since been left to mind itself with no aid for a little too long.
These days, punters can enjoy such exhibits as ‘these items have been returned to their owner’ and signs with insights such as ‘today in the 1990s, there are over 40 discotheques in Glasgow.’ Clearly, the collection is in need of a little bit of love.
And so love it shall get! This Sunday (April 14) is not only the last chance to see the gallery before it closes for three years, it’s your last opportunity ever to see a perfectly preserved museum from the ’90s, complete with contemporary photography, historiography, and the odd line that you probably shouldn’t really say anymore. After that the Palace is getting a complete refurb, set to return sometime in 2027.
The People’s Palace’s accompanying winter house, also known simply as the glass house, has been closed since 2019 for renovations, and the council hopes that both will be able to reopen together in a few years time, jointly ‘reimagined and restored’.
According to Bailie Annette Christie, the chair of Glasgow Life who manage a range of museums in Glasgow, the aim is to create ‘a dynamic community-led museum and civic space, which will foster new ways to promote inclusion, access, and participation’.
If you’re nearby this week, head over to the People’s Palace. If nothing else, the soup in the cafe is pretty good. Good luck with your refurbishments, wee auld museum! We can’t wait to see you move into the 21st century.
Love a good museum?
The People’s Palace may be closing, but fret not. We’ve got a guide to Glasgow’s best museums, so you won’t be caught short. If you’re in the mood for only the best of the best, why not check out one of out top museums in the country? We’ve even got a list of the most exciting immersive museums in Britain, if you want something a little different.
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