THE FOUNDING COLLECTION OF THE HISTORY MUSEUM OF ARMENIA (1921 - 1931) - History Museum of Armenia

The History Museum of Armenia was founded by the Parliament Law No. 439, September 9, 1919. It was called Ethnographic-Anthropological Museum-Library and had Yervand Lalayan as its first director. Started receiving visitors on August 20, 1921. The was renamed State Central Museum of Armenia (1922), Cultural-Historical Museum (1931), Historical Museum (1935), State History Museum of Armenia (1962) and History Museum of Armenia (2003).

The foundation for the founding collection of the History Museum of Armenia was laid in 1921, based on the collection of the Armenian Ethnographical Society, Nor Nakhidjevan Museum of Armenian Antiquities, Museum of Antiquities of Ani and Vagharshapat Repository of Ancient Manuscripts.

In 1923, the Committee for the Preservation of the Antiquities of Armenia was set up with A. Tamanian as its president. The Committee handed a significant group of objects to the Museum, which replenished the founding collection, increasing the number of objects to 15, 289.

The museum is entrusted with a national collection of c. 400,000 objects in the following departments: Archeology (35% of the main collection), Ethnography (8%), Numismatics (45%), Documents (12%). Replenishes its collections by finds from excavations at archeological sites in Armenia, by purchases and donations.

Represents an integral picture of the history and culture of Armenia from prehistoric times (one million years ago) till our days.

The Exhibition presents:

• Objects from the Armenian Ethnographical Society handed over to the History Museum of Armenia in 1922
• Objects from the Etchmiadzin collection handed over to the History Museum of Armenia in 1931
• Old Printed books from the Library of the Armenian Ethnographical Society handed over to the History Museum of Armenia in 1922
• Photographs of the Museum's Exhibitions of 1925 - 1930
• Cuneiform Inscription of King Sarduri II (764 - 735 BC)