Culloden Information Centre, Scotland 1973

Long before the sleek, modern Culloden Visitor Centre opened in 2007, earlier generations of visitors were introduced to the story of the battle through more modest facilities dating back to the 1960s and 1970s. These early visitor centres marked a significant step forward in battlefield interpretation in Scotland and reflected a growing public interest in heritage tourism and Jacobite history.

The First Visitor Centre – 1961

The first dedicated Culloden visitor centre opened in 1961, developed by the National Trust for Scotland. At the time, it was among the earliest purpose-built battlefield interpretation centres in the UK. The architecture was utilitarian—more functional than evocative—but it was groundbreaking in offering displays, maps, and exhibits that helped visitors make sense of the windswept moor where the battle occurred.

While modest in scale, the original centre represented a major shift from simply preserving a site to actively engaging the public with its story. It included dioramas, artefacts, and explanatory panels that traced the build-up to the battle, the tactics used, and the tragic consequences of Culloden, particularly for the Highland clans.

The 1970s Expansion

In the early 1970s, as visitor numbers increased and public expectations grew, the centre underwent expansion. This included updated displays and improvements to the exhibition space. A small audio-visual theatre was added—then a novelty—where visitors could watch a short film about the battle. Though relatively basic by today’s standards, these innovations helped to further bring the events of 16 April 1746 to life.

The 1970s saw a wider cultural revival of interest in Scottish heritage and identity, partly driven by popular books, music, and television. Culloden became a focal point for those exploring their Highland ancestry or Jacobite roots. The visitor centre of this era also began to acknowledge the cultural and political aftermath of the battle, including the suppression of Highland traditions and the transformation of clan society.

The Legacy

By the 1990s and early 2000s, the 1960s/70s-era building was showing its age. Interpretive technology had advanced, expectations for accessibility and historical balance had shifted, and there was a need for a more immersive, sensitive approach to such a solemn site. This ultimately led to the development of the current Culloden Visitor Centre, opened in 2007, which was relocated slightly to avoid disturbing the battlefield itself.