Built in the grand style during the era of empire, colonialism, collectors and world exhibitions, this Victorian museum covers a huge range of subjects from archaeology to natural history in an accessible and modern way. You'll find extraordinary works of fine art sitting alongside a century-old stuffed elephant, and Micronesian shark-tooth swords alongside a WWII Spitfire fighter plane.
Highland Scenes
Start with the Scottish Identity in Art gallery on the first floor. It's home to some jaw-dropping depictions of Highland scenes. Stand in front of Gustave Doré’s Glen Massan and you can almost feel the drizzle and smell the heather. David Wilkie’s The Cottar’s Saturday Night is based on the poem by Robert Burns, which you can listen to as you look.
Don't Miss Dalí
There's plenty of great international art too, including Rembrandt’s A Man in Armour. Arguably the highlight of the entire museum is Salvador Dalí’s powerful Christ of St John of the Cross, depicting a crucified man-god looking down through an infinity of sky to a simple fishing boat. The artist reputedly strapped a Hollywood stuntman to a gantry to get the musculature just right.
Seek Out the Elephant
Head to the ground floor's west court for prehistoric and Viking-era carved stones, Egyptian grave goods, and taxidermied animals; a reminder of the museum's Victorian origins. This is where you'll find Sir Roger the elephant, a notable Glasgow character in his late-19th-century heyday.