- Address: King George VI St, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Opening hours: 09: 00-17: 30
The National Museum of Ethiopia (Godambaa Biyyoolessa Itiyoopiyaa National Museum of Ethiopia) is the main historical institution in the country. It is located in the capital of the country and stores in itself valuable archaeological exhibits.
How was the museum founded?
The first stage of the foundation of the National Museum was a permanent exhibition, which was opened in 1936. Here, ceremonial dresses and attributes, presented by members of the royal family and their approximate ones, were demonstrated. Over time, a branch of the Institute of Archeology appeared in the institution.
It was built in 1958, its main purpose was to find valuable historical objects found during excavations in the territory of Ethiopia . On the basis of these exhibits, another exhibition was organized in the National Museum, which was gradually replenished with archaeological finds. It also brought artistic masterpieces, antique furniture, various decorations and weapons. Today in the museum you can get acquainted with the history of the country, its culture and customs .
What is in the Ethiopian National Museum?
Currently there are 4 thematic sections in the institution:
- In the basement, visitors will be able to see exhibits dedicated to paleoanthropological and archaeological discoveries.
- On the ground floor there are exhibits that relate to the Middle Ages and the ancient period. There are also memorabilia and regalia left over from the former monarchs.
- At the second level there are expositions devoted to works of art: these are mostly sculptures and paintings. They are installed in chronological order and present both modern and traditional works of local artists. The most famous exhibits, stored here, were brought from the monasteries of Lake Tana , the cities of Lalibela and Aksum .
- On the third floor tourists will get acquainted with an ethnographic exposition devoted to the culture and customs of the peoples inhabiting Ethiopia.
The main exhibit of the National Museum is a partial skeleton named Lucy (true, this is its exact copy, the original is kept in a closed room for visitors), which belongs to the Australopithecus afarensis. These are the remains of early hominids that lived more than 3 million years ago in the territory of modern Ethiopia. They are considered to be the oldest on the planet.
Features of visit
The doors of the institution are open every day from 09:00 to 17:30. The admission fee is $ 0.5. Each display has special displays and tablets with detailed information in English.
In general, as noted by foreigners, the National Museum of Ethiopia is in decline. There are problems with electricity, light is dim and often turns off. But even in this atmosphere, visitors will feel like a part of the universe and will be able to touch the world history.
In the courtyard of the National Museum there is a terrace where various animals live, in particular, turtles, as well as a garden planted with bushes and flowers. There is also a cafe in which you can eat delicious and hearty.
How to get there?
The museum is located in the northern part of Addis Ababa , near the State University. From the center of the capital you can get there by car on the road number 1 or through the streets of Ethio China St and Dej Wolde Mikael St. The distance is about 10 km.