Museum of Bucharest Municipality (Şuţu Palace), Bucharest

In 1921, the city mayor Gheorghe Gheorghian took a decision to create a museum documenting the life in Bucharest throughout centuries. Thus, in 1930, the Municipal Council offered the building of Casa Moruzi, also known as “the House in Chains” (Rom: Casa cu lanţuri), for this purpose. The opening of the new museum took place in 1931.

In 1940, the museum already had 4330 exhibits. Unfortunately, in the summer of the same year, the Museum of Bucharest Municipality had to move because of the poor condition of the building. The museum changed its location several times not without detriment to its activity.

The last move of the museum – to its current home at Şuţu Palace – took place in 1959. Built between 1833 and 1835 by architects Johann Veit and Conrad Schwinek, the Şuţu Palace is distinguished by its Gothic style, vast dome, and remarkable central hall.

The museum collection comprises some 300,000 items and includes papers and articles describing Bucharest at the end of the 17th century and the beginning of the 20th. Among the most valuable exhibits are Constantin Brancoveanu's arrow made entirely of gems and the first document that mentions the name of Bucharest. The museum also features archaeological finds, the collection of numismatics and medals, as well as photos, maps and plans, fine arts, and other Bucharest-related artifacts.