If your travels have taken you to Edinburgh, you know history is everywhere in Scotland’s capital — from the iconic castle peering down upon the city from its Castle Rock pedestal to the 17th-century Palace of Holyroodhouse. While there’s no shortage of museums in Edinburgh, a few remain under the radar of most North American visitors. At the Museum of Childhood on the Royal Mile, historic collections include games, children’s clothing, books and bedroom decorations detailing the way children lived and played before computer games came along. At The People’s Story Museum, Edinburgh citizens from the 18th century to modern times are celebrated, with exhibitions that include a wartime kitchen, former jail and a bookbinder’s workshop. Located within the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, the Surgeon’s Hall Museum and library, designed by renowned Scottish architect William Henry Playfair, houses a fascinating — if sometimes macabre — collection detailing the history of surgery and dentistry, from early surgical tools to a letter from author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle revealing college fellow Dr. Joseph Bell was the pivotal inspiration for his character Sherlock Holmes. Elsewhere, the Old City Observatory (also known as the Playfair Observatory in an ode to its designer) can be found atop Calton Hill. Professor Thomas Henderson was the first Astronomer Royal to occupy the space after his appointment in 1834.