Provost Skene's House

Provost Skene’s House is one of Aberdeen’s oldest surviving townhouses, a rare architectural treasure dating back to 1545. Its thick granite walls, crow‑stepped gables and elegant period rooms reflect the wealth and status of the city’s early civic leaders. The house is named after Sir George Skene, Provost of Aberdeen in the 17th century, who transformed it into a refined residence during the city’s mercantile boom. Inside, the museum celebrates “Aberdeen’s Pioneering People,” showcasing individuals who shaped science, industry, culture and exploration. Visitors can discover stories of innovators such as Thomas Blake Glover, the “Scottish Samurai” who helped modernise Japan, and Mary Slessor, the missionary whose humanitarian work changed lives in West Africa. Interactive displays highlight achievements in medicine, engineering, energy and the arts, revealing Aberdeen’s global influence across centuries. The period rooms remain a highlight: richly furnished chambers evoke the lives of former residents, from Stuart‑era merchants to Georgian families. Decorative plasterwork, antique furniture and intimate domestic details create a vivid sense of the past. Blending history, biography and atmosphere, Provost Skene’s House offers a compelling journey through Aberdeen’s heritage.