The Tbilisi History Museum was founded in 1910 as a City Municipal Museum. Lately it was given the name of the famous Georgian poet Ioseb Grishashvili.

Since 1984 the Tbilisi History Museum's been placed in the building of "Karvasla". The museum houses over 50 thousand exhibits. They reflect Tbilisi history from the end of the IV millennium to this date.
The museum presents archeological, ethnological and documental materials as well as the pieces of national and applied arts, a rich photo-collection etc. A number of unique works of artistic and graphic arts are also preserved in this museum. Together with the old works the museum also exposes the pieces of contemporary art. Since 1986 many exhibitions of Georgian and Foreign artists have been exposing in the museum.

Source: Georgian National Museum

 

 

On October 26, 2006 "The Museum of the Soviet Occupation" was opened in Tbilisi. The recent history of Georgia is featured in the museum. The period of independence in 1918-1921, and Soviet control until 1991, when independence was declared is represented in the museum
Exhibition space is divided into three parts. The first part is a smaller hall compared with the main ones designed to create an overall tendency. A wagon of Shorapani's freight train is exhibited here as a symbol of tragedy in the 20th century.
One of the specifics of the architecture (entresol), the central space, is a good match with the whole exhibition. Official documents along with press of that time are introduced on the entresol. Such disposition of the documentary materials contrasts with the main part of the exhibition, which is located in the lower part of the main hall. The 20th century, according to decades, is described with the objects and materials. Modern technologies are used in order to boost the historical depiction. The hall is well equipped with monitors and related visual effects.
The founding of the museum is very important for our country. It is the first time when the truth about the recent history of Georgia has been revealed. In addition, some exhibits must remain inbuilt due to the loss of independence. Opening the museum has uncovered many unfamiliar details for Georgian society. Educational approach was considered to be the most important element in the museum.
Many organizations and families under repression in the Soviet period have provided the museum with materials. Particularly, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has contributed to the opening of the museum by submitting archival materials from the KBG files of that period. The museum has received a lot of visitors since it was opened.
 

Source: http://archive.security.gov.ge/en/okupaciis.html

 

 

 

The Open Air Museum was founded on April, 27, 1966 by the famous Georgian ethnographer George Chitaia.

It is located in Tbilisi, Vake district, to the west of "Turtle Lake". It occupies 52 hectares of land and houses more than 8 thousand exhibits brought from all over Georgia. The Open Air Museum exposes 14 ethnographic zones: Kartli, Samegrelo, Adjara, Abkhazia, Svaneti, Khevsureti, Kakheti, Meskheti, Javakheti, Guria, Imereti, Racha, Lechkhumi and Osetia. Each of them presents the particular historic-ethnographic area of Georgia. Together with the architectural monuments the museum exposes ethnographic materials - different kinds of tools, textile and ceramics. The museum also exposes the V-VI c. basilica of Sioni, as well as a rich collection of the grave stones in relief.


Source: Georgian National Museum

 

 

 

The origins of the Simon Janashia Museum of Georgia stem from the founding of the Museum of the Caucasian Department of the Russian Royal Geographic Society on May 10, 1852.
In 1865 on the initiative of Gustav Rade the museum of Caucasus was established on the basis of the above mentioned department. The first exhibition was held in 1867. In 1919 the museum of Caucasus was named the Georgian Museum. In February 1921, the Georgian government made a decision about moving provisionally the state treasure from Georgian museums and churches out of Tbilisi due to the Soviet aggression towards Georgia. The treasure was first moved to Kutaisi and then to Batumi, but soon, packed in 248 boxes it was carried to France. In spite of the great obstacles, the famous Georgian public figure, Ekvtime Takaishvili could preserve and bring back to Georgia all the state property.
After the Soviet occupation a new stage of the museum development has started. Since 1947 the museum's been named after Simon Janashia. In 2004 the museum was incorporated into the Georgian National Museum. Nowadays, the great reformations have being carrying out in the museum aiming for setting the modern standards of reservation and exposition of the museum collections.
One of the most amazing exhibits in the museum is the prehistoric human remains found in Dmanisi. These remains date back to 1.8 million years and are the oldest sign of human existence outside of Africa. One of the most important collections of the museum is the Gold treasure, which consists of the unique collection of the pre-Christian (III millennium BC-IV century AD) goldsmith pieces. The unique Zoological, botanical, geological and ethnographic collections, photo archive and the video fund are also preserved in the museum.

Source: Georgian National Museum

 

 

 

 

The museum was established in 1920 by the renowned Georgian artist Dimitri Shevardnadze. The museum preserves approximately 900 hundred thousand exhibits from the medieval period up to the XX c. and few materials of the pre-Christian period.

The Museum is distinguished for its Georgian goldsmith pieces dated back to the VIII-XIX Centuries. The most significant exhibits are the icon of Zarzma Monastery, the Chalice of Bedia, Anchiskhati and Khakhuli Triptychs, Processional Liturgical Crosses etc. The museum also houses the unique exhibits of cut-enamel, jewelry and art textiles, medieval architecture monuments, paintings, mosaics, statues etc.In 1990 the museum was named after Shalva Amiranashvili for his outstanding service to the Georgian art.

S. Amiranashvili Museum of Fine Arts exposes the works of famous Georgian painters Niko Pirosmanishvili, Lado Gudiashvili, Elene Akvlediani, David Kakabadze and others. The Museum also hosts collections of Russian, Western European and Oriental (mainly Persian) artworks.



Source: Georgian National Museum





Dmanisi Museum-Reserve was founded in 1983 on base of the Dmanisi monument. The archeological excavations have been proceeding since 1936. The museum represents the medieval town of Dmanisi and the geological layer dating back to 1.8 million years, which is rich for the oldest hominid and animal remains.
Since 1991 five sculls of prehistoric hominids have been found in the site. It's notable that there is no analogue of discovery such many hominid remains in one archeological site. These results caused the great interest of the international community of scientists, as it changed the whole theory of human spreading outside Africa. The medieval archeological monument includes the inner castle, secular buildings, shrines and the secret tunnel. Among the shrines, the VI c. Dmanisi Sioni is of the utmost interest, with the XIII c. unique gate with the ornaments and manuscripts on it.


Source: Georgian National Museum