People's Palace & Winter Gardens, Glasgow (must see)

On the northeast side of Glasgow Green, find the People's Palace and Winter Gardens, opened to the public in 1898. At the time it was described by Lord Roseberry as "A palace of pleasure and imagination..." For others it is a "Social history museum..." It is in fact a museum about the people of Glasgow, their history and struggles.

The People's Palace has three floors. The ground floor provides a route to the Winter Gardens attached to the rear of the Palace. On this level there is a museum shop and some exhibition space. The next floor shows the life of Glaswegians.

There's the "Steamie", the public laundry facilit; "Doon the water", Glaswegians at the seaside of the Clyde estuary; World Wars I and II and; "Dancing at the Barrowland". The Barrowland is a ballroom nearby the People's Palace.

The upper floor divides into two wings and a center space under the roof dome. The wings are separately dedicated to everyday life of the people of Glasgow and their housing conditions. The center section attempts to pull both themes together.

Attached to the rear of the People's House are the Winter Gardens. Here is a vast Victorian house of glass. Like a biodome, it houses an enormous variety of tropical plants and a small cafe offering coffee and snacks.

Tip:
Be sure to take a look at the Doulton Fountain outside, described as the largest terracotta fountain in the world.