Glasgow merchants profited from the Atlantic slavery economy and British Empire colonies during the 18th and 19th centuries. The exhibition, titled "Glasgow: City of Empire," explores these links to modern Scotland and includes a section on slavery's connection to contemporary racism. Glasgow, once known as "the second city of the Empire," played a significant role in the trade of sugar and tobacco with slave states.
The exhibition features historical objects, such as an intricately designed wooden door from the Indian Pavilion of the 1888 Glasgow International Exhibition. It also pays tribute to figures like Lakshmibai Newalkar, the warrior queen of Jhansi, known for her resistance against British forces during the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
The museum acknowledges its own role in the slave trade, with specimens donated by a Scottish slave owner in 1905. This exhibition serves as an educational resource and starting point for understanding Glasgow's historical connections and their relevance today.