Check out our museums!
All our museums have free admission and lots of drop-in crafts and activities that are perfect if you are looking for something to do at the weekend. See www.eastlothian.gov.uk/museums for details.
Looking for ideas for the Summer Holidays? Our new 3 hour long workshop programme for primary aged can be found online
CSI 1650 - Inspired by our summer exhibition looking at the remains of soldiers captured at the 1650 Battle of Dunbar and marched south by Oliver Cromwell as prisoners of war. Many of them died along the way and were found buried in Durham. 
How did they know these skeletons were prisoners of war from Dunbar? We'll have a look at some of the techniques scientists and archaeologists use to identify remains. Suitable for ages 8-14. £12.15 each. Call in to Dunbar Town House or phone 01620 820699 to book. Thursday 8 August 9.45 - 12.45pm at Dunbar Town House Museum and Gallery.
Events and Activities
WORDWORKS Creative Writing Group – Writing Games, Nature Writing, Writing History… Open to all, first time and experienced writers.
Fridays 10-11.30am, until 30 August at Prestongrange Museum.
£3 per session (includes a free tea or coffee!) or £20 for all 8 sessions
Book by email, by phone, or sign up in the museum
0131 653 2904, www.prestongrangemuseum.org prestongrange@btconnect.com
Fun & Crafty Drop-in Activities in August
Join us for fun drop-in crafts every day during the school holidays! Suggested donation £1 per craft.
Follow us on Facebook at East Lothian Council Museums Service, John Muir’s Birthplace, John Gray Centre or Prestongrange to find out more.
Alzheimer Scotland run a D’Café at Dunbar Town House which meets on 1st Monday of the month 2.00-3.30pm. Next meetings 5 Aug and 2 Sep.
The café is for people with dementia and their carers. There will be refreshments followed by an activities/ peer support group for people living with dementia and a peer support group (facilitated by the Dementia Advisor) for carers. A donation of £3 is suggested
Tiny Tuesdays at Prestongrange every Tuesday until the end of October, 10.30am-11.30am.
Under 5s wee crafts, stories and dance. A great time for adults to meet, find support and bond with their babies and toddlers. £1 per craft
Big Fit Walk is coming to Dunbar Town House Museum & Gallery on Tuesday 3 September. We’re going for a walk and everyone’s invited. Join us on a Big Fit Walk led by Volunteers from CHANGES and Ageing Well. We’ll start from Dunbar Town House Museum & Gallery, High Street, Dunbar, EH42 1ER. Registration 10am, 10.30am start. Choose between a Bronze – 30 minute walk, Silver – 45 minute walk or Gold – 60 minute walk. No need to book but for more information:
Contact Parvine at Ageing Well on 01620 827 240 or telephone Heather at CHANGES on 0131 653 1080 or email healthyliving@changeschp.org.uk
Archaeology & Local History Fortnight brochure is available online
Events at some of the museums include:
The Treasures of Traprain, Sunday 1 September 2 - 4pm. This guided walk with Dr Fraser Hunter, accompanies the Treasures from the Hoard exhibition on now at the John Gray Centre. Booking essential - telephone 01620 820690, or in person at the museum, upstairs at the John Gray Centre.
The People of Dunbar, 1650. Tuesday 10 September, 7.30 pm at Dunbar Town House Museum & Gallery
The talk will be a journey back to the Dunbar of 1650-51. It takes as its theme documents that survive in the council records that were collated to secure compensation for losses during and after the Cromwellian occupation – an economic snapshot of the then community.Booking essential
Roman Encampment Family Weekend, Haddington Saturday 31 August – Sunday 1 September 10am – 4pm with timed arena shows. Come and enjoy a complete living history of the life and skills of the Late Roman army, including infantry, cavalry, artillery, archery, gladiators, hunting and everyday life. Lots to see and do! Fun for all the family.
For more information and a programme of the weekend’s events visit: www.johngraycentre.org
Free, but charges for some activities. No booking required. Drop-in event.
Exhibitions
Bodies of Evidence from the Battlefield of Dunbar to Durham: How archaeology and science solved a 17th century mystery. “Fascinating exhibition and sobering reminder of the hardships faced by ordinary people in the past.”, “An absolutely fascinating insight into an important part of both local and national history. Very impressed with meticulous work done on the exhibition from all participants.”
Dunbar Town House Museum & Gallery, until 30 September 2019, Open daily 1-5pm FREE Admission
Summers in Dunbar This year we are celebrating Dunbar as a tourist destination and as a place where locals and visitors have all enjoyed summers in the past. Many still recall the heyday of Dunbar’s outdoor swimming pool, golf championships, horse events and pony trekking, and children’s summer activities.
Dunbar & District History Society holds a large collection of early tourist brochures. Here we look at just some aspects of summers in our town, while also allowing the brochures to tell the story.
We would be delighted to receive new photographs or other material from the past, to add to this collection. All original images can be copied and returned.
Dunbar & District History Society, Dunbar Town House, High Street, Dunbar, EH42 1NT Tel: 01368 863734 https://dunbarhistory.org.uk
Treasures from the Hoard, Iconic pieces of the Traprain Silver Until 27 October at John Gray Centre, Haddington.
A stunning exhibition featuring many iconic pieces from the spectacular hoard of Traprain Treasure found on Traprain Law 100 years ago. This is the first time the internationally significant silver has been displayed in East Lothian since its discovery during a routine archaeological excavation.
The Traprain Treasure is the largest hoard of late Roman silver ever found out with the Roman Empire, comprising over 250 fragments of silverware that had been cut up either to exchange as bullion or for melting down and recycling.
John Muir – Writer Until 30 September at John Muir’s Birthplace.
In 2014 Dunbar-born John Muir, botanist, geologist, explorer, mountaineer and conservationist, became the 38th Scot to be commemorated in Writers’ Court in Edinburgh. His flagstone carries the words: “I care to live only to entice people to look at Nature’s loveliness.” Muir was convinced that only then would folk protect the environment.
Muir sought to persuade people through his writings - letters, journals, articles for newspapers and magazines, and twelve books. The quill pen became his sword in the battle for conservation. Friends new exhibition, ‘John Muir, Writer’, tells how it came about. Children’s activities are available as part of the exhibition. Free admission.
The Story of the Honest Toun's Association (HTA)
The HTA was founded in 1936 and, apart from the war years 1939 - 45, has held week long annual festivals in July of every year. An Honest Lad and Honest Lass are elected who with their attendants represent the town in the local festival and at all the other Borders riding festivals as well as other events over their year of office. The exhibition tells some of the Association's history, exhibit items of interest and display photos of the past.
Until Saturday 17 August at Musselburgh Museum
Teenage Kicks 1945-2015 April to November at Coastal Communities Museum, North Berwick. Admission Free. A look back at local youth culture. Curated by local youth.
Poldrate Arts and Crafts Centre Exhibition, until 11 September 2019. John Gray Centre Museum.
Come and see the work of the tutors who offer classes in painting, drawing, printmaking, spinning, weaving, upholstery, glass, pottery, clay portraiture, basket making and woodcarving.
Other opportunities
The Coastal Communities Museum, North Berwick now have a digital archive of material from all the exhibitions which have been put on since the museum opened in 2013. Visitors will be able to access this through a touch screen device.
The John Muir Way - One of Scotland's Great Trails, the John Muir Way 
offers walkers and cyclists a unique journey through Scotland’s landscapes, history and heritage.Traversing central Scotland coast to coast in 134 miles, it links Helensburgh in the west with Dunbar in the east (birthplace of 'father of national parks' John Muir). John Muir’s Birthplace is the eastern end of the route. Dunbar is an ideal stop-over when completing the trail, or base for shorter excursions.
We’re also proud to be a Stamping Station for the John Muir Way passport, so pop in to have yours stamped, or buy your passport here. We welcome John Muir Way passport holders; simply show your passport to a member of staff to benefit from our offer of 10% discount in the shop.
For more information about the coast to coast route, visit www.johnmuirway.org
The Unruly Mystic: John Muir is being screened along the John Muir Way.
You can watch the trailer here: https://johnmuirmovie.com/
Michael M. Conti’s exploration of Muir, spirituality and pilgrimage to his birthplace. There will also be an opportunity to see some of the footage he has taken along the way.
18 August: the film will be screened in Dunbar at Our Lady of the Waves Church Hall https://www.facebook.com/events/340915590189871/