National Museum of History

The National Museum of History in Sofia contains more than 650,000 exhibits and is one of the largest history museums on the Balkans.

The aim of the museum is to provide a comprehensive view on Bulgarian history from the prehistory to present, in as broad an European context as possible.

History

The National Museum of History was established on 5 May 1973 by Decree No. 90 of the Council of Ministers. On 2 March 1984, in honour of the 1300th anniversary of the Bulgarian state, the new representative exhibition was inaugurated in the former building of Court of Justice.

In 2000 the NMH shifted to a new location - Home 1 in the former Boyana residence, where on 10, November, 1989 the last communist leader was removed from power.

Collections

The National Museum of History in Sofia is one of the largest history museums on the Balkans with 650.000 objects and largest archaeological and historical archive. The Museum's collections are its greatest treasure. Its contains materials from Prehistoric ages till our days.

• Paleolithic, neolithic, chalcolithic

• Bronze age

• Early Iron Age

• Late Iron Age

• Roman Age

• Late Antiquity

• Midlle Ages 7-9 century

• Midlle Ages 10-12 century

• Midlle Ages 13-14 century

• Late Midlle Age 15-17 century

• Numismatic

• Pectorals and others addorments

• Jewelry

• Embroideries

• Weapons

• Uniforms and civil clothes and accessories

• Traditional clothes

• Every day textile

• Church, applied and fine arts

• Documents from the National Revival

• Documents from the period 1887 - 1944

• Documents from the latest history of Bulgaria

• Photos from the National Revival

• Photos from the period between 1878 - 1944

• Tools

• Every day items

• Incunabula

• Periodicals from the period between 1878 - 1944

• Periodicals from the latest history of Bulgaria

• Posters

• Maps

• Printed materials

• Manufacture samples

• Fine and applied arts

• Furniture

• Cinema - photo - phono

• Philately

• Early printed materials in foreign languages

• Flags

• Heraldry, sphragistic

Current Exhibitions

The Royal Collection of the National Museum of History

It shows a generalized view and a representative selection from the monarchic heritage of the period 1879-1946 preserved in the National Museum of History. The aim of the exhibition is to show one more link between and Europe - the dynastic.

The exhibition is realized with the financial support of the Sofia Hilton Hotel.

Sun of Embroidery

Exhibition is the first of the series "On the Balkans and in Europe". It presents, so far, unshown materials from the "Embroideries" Collection of the National Museum of History. Whole woman dresses are presented, as well as some particular elements of them - sleeves, bosoms and ends of kerchiefs from various regions of the country. They show rich embroidery decorations, typical for the end of 19th and the beginning of 20th century.

Costumes and Fashion of the Past - permanent exhibition

Exhibition It took 20 years for one Bulgarian artist - Vera Macheva - to create this unique collection of miniatures. It presents many different costumes from ancient times to the last century.

Cultural Valuables from Customs Agency Houses, permanent exhibition

It includes priceless objects in gold, silver, bronze and marble from the 4th century BC to the 19th century. Customs authorities discovered the exhibits by stopping cannals of ilicit trade. There are marble idols, gold rings with gems, cameos, marble fragments, icons, etc. among the exhibits.