Aberdeen has a long and proud civic history. Aberdeen City Council still meets in the Town House, next to the museum, so it can be said that the Tolbooth has been the seat of local government for 600 years. The Civic Room contains displays of local government in Aberdeen including portraits of former dignitaries, their robes and badges of office.

This is the Town House Charter from 1393. In it Robert III gives permission to build the new Tolbooth.