ɪt fˈɜːst ˈoʊpənd tə ðə pˈʌblɪk ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti fˈaɪv ænd mˈuːvd tʊ ɪts pɹˈɛzənt hˈoʊm ˌɔn ˈɛdɪnbʌɹəz ɹˈɔɪəl mˈaɪl ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti sˈɛvən hˈaʊzd ɪn wʌt wʌz fˈɔːɹmɚli ðə sælvˈeɪʃən ˈɑːɹmiz hˈɔːl.
It first opened to the public in 1955 and moved to its present home on Edinburgh's royal mile in 1957 housed in what was formerly the Salvation Army's hall.