Mary History Museum

Established in 1968 as the Mary Museum of History and Revolution, the Mary History Museum has undergone significant transformations since its inception. The museum’s first exhibition opened its doors to the public in 1974. Following Turkmenistan’s independence, the museum was relocated in 2008 to a new, grand white-marble building situated in the heart of Mary. This impressive structure, built by the Turkish company Sedas Insaat Anonim Sirketi, came with a hefty price tag of nearly $18 million. The three-story building is adorned with white marble across its central and side facades, while the upper semi-basement is embellished with colorful granite. Spanning an area of 10,000 square meters, the museum offers 4,000 square meters of exhibition space. Within its walls, visitors can explore six exhibition halls, a conference hall, restoration rooms, storage facilities, and laboratories. Five of these halls house permanent exhibitions, while the sixth is reserved for temporary thematic displays. The museum’s extensive collection comprises around 40,000 exhibits.

Upon entering the ground floor, visitors are welcomed into the Renaissance Hall, which is dedicated to the recent history of Turkmenistan. This hall features exhibits related to the country’s independence, including numerous portraits of President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, along with documentary archives and photographs.

The other thematic halls are home to archaeological discoveries from the ancient cities of Merv and Gonur. These exhibits include bronze and ceramic vessels, ancient jewelry, weapons, and everyday objects that date back thousands of years. For example, bronze figurines of Zoroastrian goddesses, stamp amulets, and mosaics offer a glimpse into the Margiana culture of the Bronze Age. However, the centerpiece of the archaeological hall is its collection from the Great Seljuk period in Merv. Here, visitors can marvel at stamped and glazed ceramics, bronze candelabras, and an ivory chess set, all dating back to the 10th and 11th centuries.