Hüseyin Javid Museum

Nakhchivan State History Museum is a historical landmark that presents the history of the region under one roof, from the very beginning until today. In Nakhchivan, the museum is located on Istiqlal Street: 15-20 minutes of walking from the city center and 3-5 minutes by taxi. Guests arriving by private vehicle can make use of on-street parking.

The museum opens from 9:00 AM to 18:00 PM every day. Entrance is free of charge, so that means you do not have to purchase any ticket or sign up online beforehand. The charges are for both locals and foreigners; one can directly walk inside just like any other visitor.

In the museum, you will find a continuation of the history of Nakhchivan, beginning from ancient times and up to the present day, passing through the Middle Ages and modern times. The museum was founded in 1924 under the name “History and Ethnography Museum.” It gained state status in 1968 and took its current name. In general, 45,000 artifacts are retained, of which about 3,000 are stored in the halls of the exposition.

The collection is grouped into four main sections: archaeology, ethnography, applied folk art, and numismatics. The exhibits are composed of artifacts directly excavated in the area of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, from traditional household culture and local crafts. The museum displays carpets and rugs, traditional women’s headwear, silver and copper jewelry, traditional musical instruments, ceramics found within the region, and models and photographs of Nakhchivan’s monuments.

The Archaeology Section presents the finds from the systematic excavations conducted in the Nakhchivan region: fragments of stone and ceramic items related to the 5th millennium BC, examples of the Bronze and Early Iron Ages, traces of medieval settlements, and artifacts depicting the types of tombs-all in a single line. This is the structure that makes this museum a primary reference point for the region’s archaeology.

These ethnography halls give insight into the daily life of Nakhchivan: here, under the same roof, are displayed traditional household items, clothes, handicrafts, and wooden and copper utensils, carpets and rugs, and other crafts. Thus, every exhibit in the display supplements the historical narrative with the folk way of life: you don’t just “read history”, you experience what the lifestyle is like in one region.

One of the most striking sections of the museum is the Special Fund section, which was established in 1957. More than 1,500 valuable pieces are preserved here. Gold and silverware, numismatic collections, and decorative arts are housed within this section. We highly recommend visiting this section during your visit. Plans and photographs of Nakhchivan’s medieval architecture also form a characteristic feature of the museum.

On average, a tour takes 45–60 minutes. If you want to read detailed descriptions of the artefacts or take photographs, or even make notes, then you will need up to 90 minutes. You may take photos for personal use in the exhibition halls, but to safeguard the artefacts, you cannot use flash and have to follow the instructions of the staff. Photography is forbidden in those sections that contain particularly valuable artefacts.

There is no audio guidance in the museum. The museum provides an introduction by the hall staff through narration. If one arrives as a group, one can get a guided tour of the place by informing the staff at the entrance. The guiding will be provided in Azerbaijani; you will have no problem understanding Turkish. Regular visitor programs are also organized for groups of students and school children; informing them in advance facilitates the arrangement of the exhibition.

The museum building has restrooms and a short-term waiting area for visitors. Food and drink are not allowed in exhibition halls, only water is requested. Visitors with limited mobility will be accompanied by our staff upon prior notification. Moreover, the main concern of the museum is the conservation and exhibition of this collection; as such, there is no permanent museum store in it.

In case you would like to buy souvenirs or books related to Nakhchivan, you can ask for directions to the city center from the information desk. From here, you could easily walk or take a taxi ride to the surrounding historical sites, including the Mausoleum of Mömine Hatun, the Han Palace, and the Open Air Museum, completing the tour all in one day. In this vein, the Nakhchivan State History Museum will be a good starting point for your history itinerary in the city.