Ethnographic Museum, Belgrade

The Ethnographic Museum in Belgrade, established in 1901, stands as one of the oldest museums in the Balkans. It was founded through the separation of the Ethnographic Department from the National Museum of Serbia, with its first permanent exhibition inaugurated on September 20, 1904, marking the centennial of the First Serbian Uprising. Initially, the museum's efforts were primarily focused on acquiring items and representing the Kingdom of Serbia internationally.

Located on the Student Square (Studentski Trg), in a building formerly used as the Belgrade Stock Exchange, the museum has been in its current residence since 1951, after relocating there post-World War II. The building itself was constructed in 1934. Throughout its history, the museum has faced significant challenges, including the destruction of many items and archival materials during World War I. Despite these setbacks, it has successfully re-established its library by 1920, which today houses around 60,000 publications, including 33,000 books and 27,000 journals focused on ethnology, anthropology, and related fields.

The museum's collections are extensive, containing approximately 200,000 items, with 56,000 of these being ethnographic objects. These collections encompass a rich variety of artifacts significant to Serbian and Yugoslavian cultural history, including folk dresses, textiles, carpets, and tools used in traditional handwork.

Today, the Ethnographic Museum remains a pivotal institution in Belgrade, dedicated to documenting, preserving, and promoting the ethnographic heritage of the region, reflecting its significant role in the cultural and academic landscape of Serbia and the broader Balkans.