Blog
Welcome to our blog about David Livingstone Birthplace, a museum and park near Glasgow that celebrates the life and legacy of one of Scotland’s most famous explorers. David Livingstone was a physician, missionary, and abolitionist who travelled across Africa in the 19th century. David was also an outspoken advocate for ending slavery and colonialism. Learn more about our events and activities relating to David Livingstone and the centre.
Phyllis Crossan
Date 10 July 2025
It is with heartfelt sorrow that we announce the passing and remember and give thanks for Phyllis Crossan, our friend and colleague whose devotion to the memory of David Livingstone and local history has left a lasting mark on both the museum she loved and the local area she lived.
Unity in the Community - June 2025 Meeting
Date 15 May 2025
The next meeting of the Hamilton, Larkhall and Blantyre locality network will be on Tuesday, 10th June, and hope to see you there as we progress through the year together. Please let us know via e-mail if anyone would like to present to the group or if there is a specific topic you would like to discuss.
Connecting Communities and Collections Update
Date 28 April 2025
Empower Women for Change (EWfC) and the David Livingstone Birthplace Museum (DLBM) have joined forces on a two‑year adventure (May 2024- May 2026) fFunded by Museums Galleries Scotland, the programme gives Minority Ethnic women the time, space and support to see their stories reflected in Scotland’s heritage - and to help shape how those stories are told.
Easter Events Programme 2025
Date 30 March 2025
Join us this Easter with activities and workshops for all ages, come on down to David Livingstone Centre to join us celebrating Easter 2025.
David Livingstone Birthplace Joins PHAWM Project to Enhance AI Trust and Accuracy in Cultural Heritage
Date 9 November 2024
The David Livingstone Birthplace is proud to announce its role in the PHAWM (Participatory Harm Auditing Workbenches and Methodologies) project, a collaborative effort aimed at building a transparent, AI-powered auditing system for cultural heritage collections.
We’ve Been Awarded the Investing in Volunteers (IiV) Certification!
Date 20 October 2024
We are delighted to share that the David Livingstone Trust has been awarded the Investing in Volunteers (IiV) certification, a prestigious recognition of our commitment to volunteer management excellence.
Our Green Story
Date 29 September 2024
David Livingstone Birthplace is dedicated to preserving cultural heritage while promoting sustainability. We have implemented eco-friendly practices, such as energy-efficient lighting, secondary glazing, and composting. Community engagement and environmental stewardship are key priorities.
Lanarkshire Climate Action Hub-Powered Events
Date 1 September 2024
We are thrilled to share that we have secured funding from the Lanarkshire Climate Action Hub, an organization dedicated to empowering communities across Lanarkshire to develop and implement local solutions for a low-carbon, resilient future.
The Livingstone Revisited 2024 Expedition
Date 15 July 2024
Learn more about the The Livingstone Revisited 2024 Expedition and their plans.
Unity in the Community - July 2024 Meeting
Date 19 June 2024
The next meeting of the "Unity In The Community" locality network for Hamilton, Larkhall and Blantyre will be on held on Wednesday 3 July 2024 (rescheduled from June) between 10:00 - 12:30 at David Livingstone Birthplace, 165 Station Road, Blantyre, South Lanarkshire, G72 9BY.
Empowering Moments: Obama the Pony and PAMIS Children Create Joy at David Livingstone Centre
Date 24 May 2024
We were delighted to welcome Obama "The Pony" and Simon to the David Livingstone Centre, along with Lesley from PAMIS, an organization in Scotland that supports children and adults with multiple learning disabilities and their families.
Easter Events Programme 2024
Date 19 March 2024
Join us this Easter with acvities and workshops for all ages, come on down to David Livignstone Birthplace for a day our celerating all things nature this Easter 2024.
Special Visit
Date 29 February 2024
We were delighted to welcome several special visitors, including the Malawi Parliamentary Women's Caucus, the Malawi Human Rights Commission Commissioner, and the Scottish Parliament.
Unity in the Community - March 2024 Meeting
Date 28 February 2024
The next meeting of the "Unity In The Community" locality network for Hamilton, Larkhall and Blantyre will be held on 21 March 2024.
Christmas Wreath Making Workshop 2023 Great Success
Date 3 December 2023
At our Christmas Wreath Making Workshop 2023 our experienced flower arranger Margaret showed the attendees to make a beautiful wreath for your front door or as a table decoration for Christmas.
Call for Papers (CfP) - #Legacy150 – "The Museum will not be Decolonised" Event
Date 30 November 2023
On the 150th anniversary of the funeral of Scottish traveller David Livingstone, international partners, researchers and diaspora groups come together in Scotland to discuss the legacy and interpretation of imperialism and colonially-collected objects in cultural heritage organisations.
Unity in the Community - 2024 Meeting Announced
Date 22 November 2023
The next meeting of the "Unity In The Community" locality network for Hamilton, Larkhall and Blantyre will be held on 31 January 2024.
Open Lecture - Decolonising the Curriculum: Why, What and How
Date 11 October 2023
Learn more about this important topic by watching an open lecture by Dr. Yonah Hisbon Matemba.
Unity in the Community - Next Meeting Announced
Date 13 September 2023
The next meeting of Unity in the Community - the locality network for Hamilton, Larkhall and Blantyre will be held on Wednesday 4th October 10:30 - 14:30 at the Hamilton Academical Football Ground.
The Blantyre Blast 2023
Date 15 August 2023
The David Livingstone Birthplace team has decided to Pedal for Poverty in the name of vulnerable women and girls imprisoned in poverty in collaboration with EMMS International in Malawi and Nepal. Join us on 2 September 2023 between 11:00 am - 3:00 pm.
David Livingstone 150th Anniversary Honoured by UK Parlament
Date 10 August 2023
The UK Parliament has acknowledged the 150th anniversary of David Livingstone's death with an Early Day Motion.
Unity in the Community - Second Meeting Announced
Date 21 June 2023
David Livingstone Birthplace is hosting the next Larkhall, Blantyre and Hamilton Locality Network meeting on 28 June 2028.
Unity In The Community Inaugural Event
Date 26 March 2023
The David Livingstone Trust (DLT) and Lanarkshire Association for Mental Health (LAMH) are delighted to be working together to support the Third Sector in Blantyre, Larkhall and Hamilton via the Locality Network by facilitating and organising network events for all interested organisations.
Wild Escape Easter Events Programme 2023
Date 26 March 2023
Join us this Easter as we take you on a Wild Escape. With acvities and workshops for all ages, come on down to David Livignstone Birthplace for a day our celerating all things nature this Easter.
Getting to David Livingstone Birthplace Museum
Date 6 March 2023
This year, we’ve teamed up with Good Journey so that we can offer 2for1 entry to anyone getting here by public transport, bike, or foot!
Interning with David Livingstone Birthplace
Date 5 March 2023
Elena De Marco is currently an Interactive and Digital Media Production student interning with the David Livingstone Birthplace Museum.
Cataloguing the Reference Library
Date 10 August 2022
An exploration of the reference library belonging to the David Livingstone Birthplace.
Celebrating Youth at David Livingstone Birthplace
Date 2 August 2022
Reflecting on the recent Youth Open Day event at the David Livingstone Birthplace.
Happy Birthday Blog
Date 28 July 2022
Happy Birthday to Us! Since we opened our newly imagined exhibition on 28 July 2021, we have welcomed over 10,000 visitors to the museum.
David Livingstone Birthplace and Black Lives Matter
Date 25 May 2022
On 25th May 2020 George Floyd was killed. His death caused public outcry and led to global protests, as part of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Your Adventurous Guide to Southern & Central Africa
Date 9 May 2022
Hi there! I’m David Livingstone. Originally from Blantyre, Scotland, I’m now making my way round Sub-Saharan Africa. It’s just one adventure after another!
David Livingstone and the Blantyre Cotton Works
Date 1 April 2022
Livingstone grew up during the Industrial Revolution. This was a time when technological advances meant industry developed rapidly. Machines took over jobs that had previously been done by hand, meaning they could be done more efficiently.
Our Immerse Visual and Audio Experience
Date 22 October 2021
The use of colourful graphics, which physically divide the Museum’s space, as well as sound effects, are just a few of the ways we immerse visitors into Livingstone’s life and experiences.
Margot Lombaert Inspired By Livingstone
Date 19 August 2021
Have you noticed the stunning line drawings throughout David Livingstone Birthplace? After being brought on in 2019, designer Margot Lombaert worked with the Curatorial Team to create single-line image illustrations to portray elements of Livingstone’s story.
Museum Landscaping Work Receives Much Needed Funding Boost
Date 13 July 2021
David Livingstone Birthplace was delighted to receive a £200 donation from the Asda Foundation’s Green Tokens Scheme and a huge selection of over 200 bedding plants and climbers from local supermarket Asda Blantyre.
Blantyre Works Library Rehousing Project - Creating Book Sleeves
Date 13 June 2020
In reading, everything that I could lay my hands on was devoured... Scientific works and books of travel were my especial delight.
Insights from the Collection - Antelope Skin Kaross
Date 20 May 2020
Learn more about the a cloak made out of Antelope skin traditionally known as a ‘kaross’ that was gifted to David Livingstone.
Discovering Objects in a Diviner’s Medical Kit
Date 12 May 2020
Aimee Murphy talks about her work placement and how it was fascinating to learn more about the collection's objects and their histories. Including her main focus of research on the objects previously catalogued as ‘witch doctor apparatus’.
Conservation Treatment on Haswell Miller’s Painting, 'The Barred Door'
Date 29 April 2020
While David Livingstone Birthplace is currently closed for refurbishment, behind the scenes a team of National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF)-funded museum professionals, volunteers and students have been working to ensure the collection is protected and cared for, including one of Haswell Miller’s paintings, titled The Barred Door.
Alexandra Foulds: Textile Conservation with National Museums Scotland
Date 20 April 2020
David Livingstone Birthplace volunteer Alexandra Foulds describes her experience at a textile conservation workshop at the beginning of September 2019, organised by National Museums Scotland as part of their national training programme.
Austin Ndala Explains Items from David Livingstone Birthplace Collection
Date 28 October 2019
Austin Ndala is a Next Step Initiative trainee with David Livingstone Birthplace. As a trainee, he gets to work in all aspects of museum and heritage practice, from community engagement to conservation.
Pilkington Jackson Tableux
Date 2 August 2019
Charles d’Orville Pilkington Jackson, a prominent 20th Century British sculptor, was known for his work on some of Scotland’s most iconic landmarks, including The Scottish National War Memorial in Edinburgh Castle and statue of Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn.
Lottie Roberts and Lucy Brayson Look Back at Their Time with David Livingstone Birthplace
Date 1 August 2019
Lottie Roberts (Learning and Outreach Trainee) and Lucy Brayson (Curatorial and Community Engagement Trainee) - Skills for Success Learners, Museums Galleries Scotland supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Navigation Handling Box
Date 29 July 2019
We all use maps for different things, but the one thing we have in common is that we use them to navigate or find our way. David Livingstone did the very same thing when he created and used maps to help navigate across Africa in the 1850s during his Trans-African expedition.
The Smoke That Thunders
Date 4 December 2018
16 November 1855 was the 163rd anniversary of David Livingstone reaching the Falls bordering of Zambia and Zimbabwe.
