The New Scotland Museum tells the story of the Town from its geological beginning to the present. Visitors can see fossils, Indian artifacts, early agricultural implements, Civil War memorabilia, and many other reminders of centuries of life in New Scotland. There is even an 1854 map by famous 19th Century Robber-Baron Jay Gould! Each year, special exhibits outline aspects of local history.

     Part of the Museum occupies what once was the one room New Salem Schoolhouse built in 1903. Some of the building's original features have been preserved, such as the blackboards and the old coat room, where students were sometimes sent for misbehavior!

     The Museum first opened in 1975. It was expanded and refurbished in 1997. Since that time, its collections and activities have been growing. A recently completed barn serves as collection storage and extra exhibit space for large artifacts. The Museum shares program space with the Wyman Osterhout Community Center.

     The Museum houses a large collection of photographs, and a variety of local history resources that are available to researchers and the public.

The exhibit highlights the contributions of New Scotland residents who served in the military and depicts life on the home front during those crucial years. Artifacts, documents and reminiscences bring the era to life.

     The opening marked the unveiling of the recently conserved New Salem Honor Roll Banner from WWI. The exhibit includes a pictorial Honor Roll of New Scotland Veterans, which will continue to be added to as long as the exhibit is open, creating an important document for the future. In addition, the NSHA is working with the Oral History Program of the NYS Military Museum and Veterans Research Center in Saratoga Springs to set up interviews with New Scotland Veterans to record their personal military histories. The exhibit opened on April 29, 2007 and will be in place until the last weekend of March in 2008.