The National Historical Museum is the most important museum of modern Greek history and the oldest of its kind in Greece. It is the central museum of the Historical and Ethnological Society of Greece, an institution founded in 1882 with the purpose of preserving historical memory and highlighting modern Greek identity.
The museum is a private legal entity and since October 2025 has been officially accredited by the Greek Ministry of Culture. It is also a member of the International Association of Museums of History (IAMH) and the International Council of Museums (ICOM) and it cooperates with the Council of Europe and UNESCO.
Since its establishment in 1884, the museum has remained committed to its mission: collecting, preserving and displaying historical objects from the Fall of Constantinople in 1453 up to the present day. Its rich collections include paintings, engravings, sculptures, figureheads from ships, flags, weapons, maps, philhellenic items and personal items of key figures in modern Greek history.
The museum also has an important Folklore collection, including costumes worn by well-known fighters, historical personalities and church leaders, as well as regional Greek costumes and everyday objects. In addition, it maintains an Archive of Historical Documents, a Library, a Photographic Archive and a Conservation Laboratory, making it an important research center.
Since 1960, the museum has been housed in the historic Old Parliament Βuilding in Kolokotroni Square, in central Athens. The permanent exhibition is deployed around the impressive Assembly Hall, which is itself a place of historical significance and is also used for cultural and educational events. Temporary exhibitions are hosted in the gallery above.
In the museum’s permanent exhibition, the history of the Greeks is presented from the 15th to the 20th century:
• The period of Latin and Ottoman rule (13th–18th centuries)
• The awakening of Greek national consciousness (17th–18th centuries)
• The Greek War of Independence (1821–1827)
• The foundation and formation of the modern Greek state (19th–early 20th century)
Over its long history, the museum has organized more than 100 temporary exhibitions in Athens, across Greece and abroad. It has also published a large number of studies on modern Greek history, folklore and tradition, some of which have been awarded by the Academy of Athens. The museum is also active in education, offering guided tours, school programs, workshops and outreach activities.
Beyond its main location in Athens, the museum also operates two annexes on the island of Hydra:
– Τhe Lazaros Kountouriotis Historical Mansion, which functions as a folk museum and art gallery.
– Tetsis Home & Studio (Grandparents’ home of painter and academic Panagiotis Tetsis), which preserves elements of traditional island life.
Contact details:
National Historical Museum
Old Parliament Building, Kolokotroni Square, 13 Stadiou Street, Athens 10561
Τ.: 2103237617
Website: National Historical Museum
Ε-shop: National Historical Museum
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Lazaros Kountouriotis Historical Mansion | Τ.: 2298052421 | E: [email protected]
