National Museum of History

Visit Guide to National Museum of History

Located in the former residence of famous oil magnate and philanthropist Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev, this museum guides visitors through Azerbaijan’s fascinating history, from its very beginnings to the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (1918-1920), showcasing key people and events. There is also a house museum dedicated to Taghiyev, a key figure of the Oil Boom period.

Main image: Urek Meniashvili, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Getting There

Located right in the city center, the museum is easy to access by public transportation or personal car, but it is much better to visit as you walk around downtown Baku.

What to Expect

The building where the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan is located belonged to an oil millionaire and philanthropist Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev. Taghiyev’s house-museum is located in 9 rooms of the building. In these rooms you can see the furniture and different belongings of Haji Zeynalabdin and his family, as well as get acquainted with the lifestyle of the Taghiyev family. In other parts of the museum, about 300,000 exhibits reflecting the history of Azerbaijan from ancient times to the present day are preserved in six departments.

History

The museum was built in 1895-1901 on the project of Jozef Goslawski, the author of many magnificent buildings in Baku, and is inscribed in the historic memory as the Taghiyev’s Palace. The famous millionaire and his family lived in this three-storey building along with close relatives for 18 years – until 1920.

Facilities

  • Audio guides
  • Guide services
  • Public toilet
  • Wi-Fi