Rain exhibition at National Library of Scotland celebrates the nation's wettest obsession
An exhibition dedicated to rain has opened at the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh, showcasing historical documents, literature and interactive displays. The event runs from June 19, 2026 to April 30, 2027.
The National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh is hosting an exhibition titled "Rain", open from 19 June 2026 to 30 April 2027. Celebrating Scotland's most famous natural phenomenon, the display draws on the country's literary and scientific heritage.
Central to the exhibition is the work of 18th-century scientist James Hutton, considered the father of modern geology, who in 1784 developed a "theory of rain" explaining the condensation of water vapour. Between 100 and 160 billion cubic metres of rain fall on Scotland annually.
Among the exhibits are items featuring Minnie the Minx from the Beano comic, Robert Burns's poem "Tam O'Shanter", and samples of Mackintosh waterproof fabric invented by Charles Macintosh in 1823. A rare original copy of King James VI's 1597 treatise "Daemonologie" is also displayed, in which he blamed witches for conjuring storms that delayed his bride's arrival from Denmark. This work inspired the witches in Shakespeare's "Macbeth", which features in the exhibition alongside the storm-soaked ride of Tam O'Shanter.
Alison Stevenson, director of collections at the library, explained that while previous exhibitions focused on biographical or historical topics, this one breaks new ground by examining rain's pervasive role in Scottish life. Rain appears in manuscripts, maps, poetry, newspaper archives, and films. The exhibition includes early rain maps from 1912 charting 25 years of data, and a weather forecast wall where visitors can play TV meteorologist using pre-digital symbols.
Surprisingly, Edinburgh is one of the driest cities in the UK, receiving less annual rainfall than Rome. The exhibition was opened on 17 June by Heather Reid, a well-known Scottish weather presenter.
The exhibit is dedicated to the memory of Mel Houston, the library's preventive conservator who was killed in a flash flood in the Scottish Borders in early 2023. She had played a key role in ensuring the library's buildings and collections could withstand rising temperatures and water levels due to climate change.
