The History Museum of Armenia is the country’s largest historical museum and an important cultural institution, located in Republic Square and sharing the same building with the National Gallery of Armenia.
The museum was founded in 1919 and opened to the public in 1921. It presents the rich and ancient history of Armenia — from prehistoric times to the present day. Since the 1950s, the museum has been housed in a building designed by Alexander Tamanyan, as part of the Republic Square complex.
The museum holds around 400,000 artifacts and is divided into several halls, each representing a particular historical period.
The tour begins with prehistoric and ancient Armenia, showcasing artifacts from the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age. One hall is dedicated to Urartu, the first Armenian kingdom, dating from the 9th to the 6th century BC. One of the museum’s most famous artifacts — the oldest known leather shoe in the world, over 5,500 years old — is also preserved in this section.
Another section represents the classical and Hellenistic periods, telling the story of ancient Armenian capitals such as Artashat and Tigranagert. This part of the museum includes fragments from temples, ancient coins, sculptures, and more.
In the medieval Armenia section, you’ll find church relics, ceramics, manuscripts, and weapons from the Bagratuni Kingdom, the Cilician Kingdom, and other Armenian dynasties.
The museum also includes modern and contemporary history halls, which present personal belongings and items related to the Armenian liberation movements. There are also exhibits dedicated to the Armenian Genocide, Soviet Armenia, and the independence movement of the 1990s.
In addition to its exhibitions, the museum plays a vital role as a scientific and educational center. It supports historical research, cultural preservation, and regularly hosts temporary exhibitions.
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