Perched atop one of the serene green hills on the outskirts of Yerevan, nestled within the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex, stands the Armenian Genocide Museum. This solemn institution serves as a powerful reminder of one of the darkest chapters in human history—a brutal atrocity committed against the Armenian people in the early 20th century. Beyond its role as a place of mourning, the museum has become a beacon of remembrance, a symbol of the enduring Armenian spirit, and a call to the world never to forget.
Inaugurated in 1995 to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, the museum was designed to honor the victims and confront the global community with the reality of the crimes committed. Its mission is clear and unwavering: to ensure recognition of the Armenian Genocide as an unforgivable evil, in hopes that such horrors may never be repeated. As the museum solemnly reminds us, forgetting the past risks reliving it.
Since its opening, the museum has welcomed countless visitors from around the world—schoolchildren, university students, scholars, tourists, and dignitaries. Visiting foreign delegations frequently include the museum in their official itineraries, making it a site of international reflection and respect.
Despite the heavy subject matter, the atmosphere of the museum is not one of despair, but of reverence and resilience. Silence blankets the area, yet it resonates with a quiet dignity, pierced occasionally by the murmur of voices or the rustle of flower bouquets brought in remembrance. It is not uncommon to see families with children, elderly survivors, and youth alike gathered here—proof that though tragedy defines the past, life continues forward with purpose.
The Armenian Genocide, perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire during World War I, remains one of the most harrowing crimes of the 20th century. Beginning in 1915 and continuing until around 1923, this state-sanctioned campaign of extermination led to the deaths of over 1.5 million Armenians. Those who survived the massacres were forced to flee their ancestral lands, scattering across the globe in search of safety.
The genocide was orchestrated by the Young Turk government, and over time, its recognition has grown among the global community. Yet for Armenians, the wounds remain fresh. Each name, each face in the museum’s halls speaks of a life cut short, a history interrupted.
The museum’s architectural layout is both meaningful and deliberate. Designed by architects Artur Tarkhanyan and Sashur Kalashyan, with sculpture contributions by Frid Soghomonyan, the structure occupies a slope beneath the iconic Tsitsernakaberd monument. A striking fissure runs from the base to the tip of the memorial stele, symbolizing the split of the Armenian people—one part rooted in the homeland, the other scattered across the diaspora.
The museum itself is a two-story building, with its main exhibition space located underground, evoking the sense of a crypt. Its circular interior, reminiscent of Dante’s infernal circles, carries the weight of sorrow and remembrance. From its flat rooftop, visitors are treated to an awe-inspiring view of Mount Ararat and the Ararat Plain—a sacred image forever etched in Armenian identity.
The museum’s exhibitions span two floors. The ground level houses administrative offices, a library, a reading room, a conference hall, and the museum’s archive. The core exhibitions are located on the subterranean level, consisting of three main exhibition halls, an outer gallery, and an additional hall.
Hall One: Life Before the Genocide
The first hall greets visitors with a massive relief map—nine meters wide and five meters tall—depicting the Armenian Highland and surrounding regions. This topographic engraving marks the once-thriving Armenian settlements within the Ottoman Empire that faced devastation in 1915. The walls are adorned with photographs and demographic charts, presenting a vivid picture of Armenian cultural and social life prior to the genocide, including data on schools and churches that once flourished in these communities.
Hall Two: The Horror Unfolds
The second exhibition hall delves into the darkest days of the genocide. Large black-and-white photographs from 1915–1917 bear silent witness to the terror, while authentic documents and personal testimonies speak volumes about the suffering endured. Images of well-known Armenian figures affected by the genocide are also displayed, as well as photographs of foreign allies who supported the Armenian people in their hour of need.
Hall Three: Legacy and Recognition
The third hall turns toward the aftermath and international response. Visitors learn about the dramatic drop in the Armenian population between 1914 and 1922, and view original documents from governments and international organizations that formally recognized and condemned the genocide. The hall also features rare antique books on the subject, materials on humanitarian efforts led by the United States, Russia, and European nations, and artifacts from the work of international missionaries.
A deeply symbolic installation in this hall features granite pedestals containing earth collected from six vilayets (provinces) of Western Armenia. Nearby stands a basalt tree whose branches stretch outward—an emblem of eternal life and Armenian rebirth.
The Final Chamber: A Court of Conscience
The last space, designed as a traditional Armenian courtyard, is a powerful culmination of the experience. Quotes from prominent writers, politicians, scholars, and diplomats are etched into a curved basalt wall divided into twelve equal sections. This half-circle layout resembles a tribunal where the voices of history deliver their testimony. It is here that visitors are silently asked to render their own moral judgment—to reflect, to remember, and to decide what kind of future should be shaped from such a past.
The Jean Jansem Gallery
Adjacent to the museum operates an art gallery named in honor of Jean Jansem, a celebrated French-Armenian painter. This gallery regularly hosts temporary exhibitions, offering artists a platform to explore themes of identity, memory, and resilience.
The Armenian Genocide Museum is located in Tsitsernakaberd Park, approximately 4 kilometers from Yerevan’s city center. The nearest metro station is Marshal Baghramyan, from which the memorial complex is a short walk away.
Before visiting, guests can explore the museum’s official website, which offers access to a trove of historical documents, digital archives, and information about current exhibitions.
Address: 8/8, Tsitsernakaberd highway, Yerevan
Phone: (+374 10) 39-14-12
Working hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10:00 a.m. till 03:30 p.m.
Closed: on Monday
