About Clan Macpherson Museum
Welcome to the Clan Macpherson Museum. You don't have to be a Macpherson to find a visit to us interesting. We are open from April to October (inclsive) and entrance is free (but a donation is very welcome).
Clan Macpherson Museum Description
The museum tells the history of the Clan and its people. From ancient Highland history to modern computer science, there you will find Macphersons.
Famous men and women of the Clan have changed the face of the world: in science, the military, the arts and sport. See the weapons used in days gone-by. Read about mutinies and see the chanter sent down from the heavens.
Learn about a story of High Resolve, Patriotism, Loyalty and the Jacobite Cause.
Discover the romance, loyalty and valour of one of the last of the Jacobites: Cluny of the '45 who was hunted for 9 years after Culloden. He hid in caves and he held the horse for the officer who was searching for him!
Witness the story behind Macpherson's Lament and the broken fiddle: dramatic tales of a 'Robin Hood-like' character celebrated in song whose life was ended by changing the time on a clock.
See the letter written on 26th July 1689 from Viscount Dundee to Macpherson of Cluny calling for his support in the Jacobite cause.
Admission is free, but it does cost about £3 per person to keep the Museum open, however, so a donation "in the box" would be appreciated.
Reviews
The snow has (almost ) gone. The exhibits and the Curator are dusted down. We are open for the new season! Do come and see us.
Congratulations to Ruiseart who celebrates his 10th anniversary as Curator of our Clan Museum. One picture shows him on his first day on duty, the 1 April 2009. The other is 10 years later in 2019 - can you tell which is which? Good luck for a successful season and continued support for the replacement of the roof.
We are getting there, slowly but surely... A bit further!! Our museum is fraying! Years and Highland weather has taken its toll and we need a major replace-and-repair programme on the extension building and roof (the Victorian structure is OK). To fund the programme many initiatiives and efforts will be being made over the next year or two to raise the £250,000 needed. We will update the picture to show the progress to that figure. If you want to contribute is any way, either... by direct donation or organising a fund-raising event, please contact Angus, the Convenor of the Trustees, at convenor.museum@clan-macpherson.org. Further information is available at https://clan-macpherson.org/museum/roof For US people a 'Go Fund Me' page has been set up at https://www.gofundme.com/clan-macpherson- roof-amp-building… for a tax efficient way of contributing.
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THE CLAN MOTTO - ' TOUCH NOT THE CAT BUT A GLOVE '
This motto is not unique to the Clan Macpherson - several of the other clans that emerged from the Old Clanchattan and the later Clan Chattan Confederation also use this motto in one form or another. However, it may have a different meaning for them. To the Macphersons the motto means 'Be wary of the ungloved cat - the cat with its claws extended from its glove or paw.' A cat with its claws extended can be very dangerous ...and one should avoid contact or suffer the consequences. Others believe that the motto means that one should not handle a wildcat without wearing a glove. But naturalists have testified that handling a Scottish wildcat - with or without a glove - is not recommended. The photograph shown below should provide some credibility to that testimony. In the Gaelic our motto is 'Na bean don chat gun lamhainn.' Today we recognise that the existence of the Scottish wildcat in the wild is threatened by the encroachment of civilisation on its habitat and we actively sponsor efforts to protect them. In addition, we provide support for a family of wildcats that live at the Highland Wildlife Park in an environment that closely resembles their natural habitat. The Park is located just up the road at Kincraig. In 2003 our present mascot, Heather gave birth to four kittens - Feshie, Tromie, Cullin and Clunie.
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We are sure that most Macphersons are aware of the significance of the Wildcat, or Highland Tiger, to the Macphersons. We would also hope that most are aware of the very serious position this iconic creature is in from the dilution of its genes by the mating with the many feral domestic cats. For more information you might like to go to http://www.scottishwildcataction.org, and for some cracking pictures in close up of a superb pure Highland Tiger try http://www.aigas.co.uk/touch-not-the-cat- bot-a-glove/
Christmas Shopping Your Christmas Shopping can help the Museum at no cost to you! Remember there are 1000’s of retailers now on #easyfundraising – if you think a retailer might be on there, they probably are! JD Sports, White Stuff, TK Maxx, Majestic Wines, Bodyshop, Very, The Perfume Shop, Apple, Waterstones, Boots, Screwfix, Boden, Notonthehighstreet, Game, Pandora, Topshop, Halfords, Hamleys, Carphone Warehouse, iTunes etc. Perfect for all your Christmas gift shopping! Clan Macpherson Museum gets a donation from every purchase you make and it doesn't cost you a penny! To find out more, visit our page: https://www.clan-macpherson.org/museum/su pportus.html#easy
The wooden handrail for the car park ramp, which was in poor order, has been replaced with a metal one and cemented in by Evan Cheyne from Newtonmore. Evan, whose mother is a Macpherson, is pictured working on the job.
Today, 31st October, is the last day of the season and we close the museum doors for the winter. We also say farewell to Katie Roden who has acted as our Museum Assistant this season. Katie has been a popular and welcoming hostess for visitors arriving at the museum. She is shown having just been presented with a wee sustenance to assist her over the winter in Tomatin. Good luck for the future Katie and especially with your MLitt in Archaeology Studies dissertation to be submitted at the end of November.
It was with sadness that the news of the recent death of Dr Alan G. Macpherson was received. Alan's knowledge of clan history and the genealogy of Macphersons throughout the world was unsurpassed. He wrote his first of many serious articles for Creag Dhubh in 1953 when he was a young man of only 25. He was involved in the production of the Green Booklet and author of The Posterity of the Three Brethren and A Day's March to Ruin - the Badenoch Men in the Forty-Five. Alan ...was enormously generous with his knowledge and research and helped hundreds of individuals and families with their personal research. He was never afraid to question anything that was produced and would ensure that what he documented was accurate and backed up with evidence. He also gave generously of his time and finances to the Clan Museum. He and Joyce travelled from Canada and carried out a review of the exhibition, resulting in the display being upgraded during the winter of 2004/2005. He was responsible for improving the storage of books in the museum library. He also donated to the Sheila, Lady Cluny Museum Endowment Fund and was a Dionadairean or Guardian of the Clan Museum. Alan was a Vice President of the Clan Association, appointed by Cluny as Seanachaidh (historian and genealogist) to the Clan Macpherson - a truly well deserved appointment. The Clan Macpherson has had several distinguished Seanachaidh over the centuries, but certainly no one with such a wide knowledge of Macphersons worldwide. Our generation has been fortunate to have benefitted from the work and knowledge of Alan G Macpherson. At the Scotland & N.I. Branch AGM on Saturday, a few words were expressed regarding Alan's contribution to the Clan Macpherson and the Clan Chattan Associations, that the bulk of his extensive archives relating to genealogy and history, donated to the CMA, are stored at the Highland Archives in Inverness. That his Macpherson research papers are available to read on 'Relevant Sources' under 'The Museum' menu on the clan website. A minutes silence was observed in Alan's memory. Our condolences are extended to Joyce, their children Ewan and Anne, and their respective families.
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John Macdonald from Drumnadrochit is studying part time for an MLitt in British Studies at The University of the Highlands & Islands under the supervision of Dr Jim MacPherson. Dr Jim is a member of the Clan Museum Advisory Committee. As part of his research, John is looking into William Macpherson of Phoness who took part in the siege of Quebec in 1759. He is pictured reading a copy of Church and Social Life in the Highlands (1893) by clan historian Provost Alexander Macpherson which covers the Phoness family and in particular William Macpherson. John was delighted with the result of his research in the Clan Museum reference library and archives.
A small but select crowd enjoyed an excellent talk: 'Simple Heraldry - Cheerfully Illustrated' at the Clan Museum during the afternoon of the 2nd October. The talk was delivered by Clan Macpherson Association member Gordon Casely who is a founder member of the Heraldry Society of Scotland.
was great to finally visit my ancestral museum.
An exceptional military history within the Macpherson clan, very proud and impressed by that.
Also quite spooky too look at a couple items within the museum and see a resemblance to my father and siblings.
Well documented and presented, helpful staff
Great museum run by lovely staff who are very knowledgeable.
Es ist jedes Mal wieder eine Bereicherung, dieses Museum zu besuchen. Kann ich nur empfehlen. Und wer dort hin geht, bitte die Familie Alcorn herzlich grüßen :-)
was great to finally visit my ancestral museum.
An exceptional military history within the Macpherson clan, very proud and impressed by that.
Also quite spooky too look at a couple items within the museum and see a resemblance to my father and siblings.
Well documented and presented, helpful staff
Great museum run by lovely staff who are very knowledgeable.
Es ist jedes Mal wieder eine Bereicherung, dieses Museum zu besuchen. Kann ich nur empfehlen. Und wer dort hin geht, bitte die Familie Alcorn herzlich grüßen :-)