The Ganja Historical and Local Lore Museum, named after the renowned Azerbaijani poet Nizami Ganjavi, stands as a significant cultural landmark in the city of Ganja. What makes the museum’s origin particularly noteworthy is the fact that its creation was largely initiated by local educators and students from the city’s pedagogical seminar. The museum was officially inaugurated in 1924.
In 1927, during archaeological excavations in the area of Yelenedorf (now Goygol), German archaeologist Jakob Hummel discovered several historical artifacts, which he donated to the district museum at the time. This district museum was later transferred to the Kirovabad (Ganja) Museum, bringing with it all of these valuable finds.
Today, the museum comprises two main departments: the local history section and the agricultural department. Initially, these exhibits only contained about 500 items. Over time, however, the collection grew substantially. After four decades, the museum’s original space was no longer adequate to house all the exhibits, prompting its relocation to a larger, more spacious building. By this time, the collection had expanded to include several thousand items across three main sections: pre-revolutionary, Soviet, and the local history sections.
The museum currently boasts 18 halls, housing nearly 18,000 items that span various historical periods of the Ganjabasar region. Among its most valuable pieces are weapons, pottery, jewelry from the 9th century BC Bronze Age, coins, and more.
The museum’s primary collection now totals close to 25,000 items, including archaeological, ethnographic, and artistic artifacts, as well as coins, photographs, books, magazines, newspapers, and other notable items. In 1972, the museum was moved to the mansion of Abulfaz Khan, a descendant of the once-powerful Ziyadkhans dynasty. It is in this historic mansion that the museum remains to this day.
The museum’s current premises feature 18 halls and an expanded collection of 30,000 items. Visitors will find a diverse array of exhibits that are sure to spark their interest, including books, weapons, pottery, printed materials, household goods from various periods, and much more.
Address:
244 Mustafa Kamal Atatürk, Ganja