Riverside Museum

For months, Aaron has been talking about going down to see the three-masted barque on the Clyde. One can see the ship from the train line, but I had never paid much attention to the museum in front of it. I finally made it down there though, but he didn't get to come with, so I think I have our next family outing planned! :) 

The Riverside Museum was originally the Museum of Transport until its redesign in 2011. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but it honestly was a very impressive museum and if you know me, I'm not really a car/transport person. (And yes, the walls are a funky shade of green, it's not just my camera playing tricks on me.)

But I really loved this car... 

And I had a feeeeew more favourites to choose from, if that first one wasn't to my tastes. Some of these were very Downton Abbey-esque and I wish I could drive around the countryside on a sunny day in them. It would be a splendid way to take in the scenery! 

I absolutely loved this section! It was set up like a small portion of a Scottish town in the early 1900s. You could meander into some of the shops or just admire the windows. And yes, that's a funeral horse and buggy in front of me, but I was so impressed with the overall look, that I just snapped away. 

It's a wee bit blurry, but this dress was exquisite. It was completely handmade and I could barely see the delicate little, hand-sewn stitches on the front. Interestingly enough, there were many original costumes from different eras spread out throughout the museum including a couple of full petticoated dresses from the 50s all the way back to some dresses from the turn of the century. 

And another view of the street, along with an iconic post box. 

So much to see! Additionally, it's one of the few museums I've been to in the UK that had a nearly even number of electronic and written displays. Everything was very detailed and well-done. There was so much more to see than what I've mentioned... I was greatly impressed by the wall of detailed model ships, based off of real-life ships, many of which saw service during the World Wars. Also, there were several steam engines and a few trams on exhibit. Upstairs was a small area where we stopped for tea and sandwiches and there were large windows that afforded us a great view out on the Clyde towards Paisley. 

One of my favourite parts though was walking out behind the museum along the Clyde and seeing the Glenlee. She really is a beautiful ship and free to visit! I didn't have the chance to go up to the deck, so next time, I'm going aboard. 

From the dock next to the Glenlee, one is afforded a beautiful view looking towards Glasgow. It was a hazy afternoon when we were there, but I enjoyed seeing these buildings from a different angle! All in all, excellent museum and I now see why it is the 5th most visited in Scotland!