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The People's Story Museum
The People's Story Museum
The People’s Story explores the lives of Edinburgh’s ordinary people at work and play from the late 18th century to today. Visitors can see displays showing a bookbinder’s workshop, a wartime kitchen and much more, all packed with real objects. You can even see a former jail, an original part of this historic building.
The People’s Story is housed in the Canongate Tollbooth, a Royal Mile landmark built in 1591 and used in the past to conduct burgh affairs, collect taxes and as a jail. Visitors can imagine the ghostly rattle of the jailor’s keys as they peer into an original cell.
If you want to experience a real slice of Edinburgh life in the past, from workdays to washdays, high days to holidays, The People’s Story is the museum to visit.
Images of the Canongate Tollbooth and other tollbooths can be found on Capital Collections.
Find out more about The People's Story and what you will see when you visit.
Find out more about The People's Story collections, which are full of the colour and drama of everyday life.
Check our opening hours and how to find us.
Find out about our range of learning materials and fun activities.
There is no temporary exhibition space in the Museum, but find out about the People's Story exhibitions shown in other venues.
Find out about the Museum of Edinburgh Shop, which sells People's Story-related items, and is just across the road.
Did you Know?
about the great escape from this building?