Our History

The Municipal Council decides about the foundation of the Municipal Museum according to the initiative prepared by Károly Gerlóczy (Chief Notary and the first Deputy Mayor of Budapest, 1835–1900).

Planned by Gyula Orczy (architect and municipal councilor, 1874–1939), the first building of the Aquincum Museum opens on 10 May, consisting of a foyer and only one room.

Based on Bálint Kuzsinszky’s (professor, archaeologist, epigraphist and museum director, 1864–1938) plans, the Municipal Council decides on establishing a historical, a fine art and a natural history collection besides the archaeological collection.

The first exhibition of the Municipal Museum opens in the former fine arts pavilion (today the Olof Palme House) of the 1885 National Exhibition in the City Park.

The only known Ancient Roman water organ is unearthed by Lajos Nagy (archaeologist, historian and museum director, 1897–1946). Its discovery gets a huge press coverage both in Hungary and abroad, garnering an almost instant international recognition for one of the most significant finds of the museum.

The first Prehistoric findings were acquired by the Municipal Museum in 1893. 1932 marks the year of them being registered and recorded as an individual collection.

Presenting the Medieval carved stone artefacts discovered in the Castle District, the northern tower of the Fisherman’s Bastion operates as the Medieval Lapidarium until 1952.

Founded in 1932, the Capital Gallery of Budapest moves to the Károlyi Palace a year later. According to a mayoral decision, it becomes part of the Municipal Museum in 1935.

According to the will of Miksa Schmidt (architect, interior designer, furniture manufacturer and art collector, 1861–1935), his mansion in Kiscell (a district of Óbuda) is left to the capital. His terms include the establishment of an applied arts museum from the mansion’s furniture as well as the creation of a public park on the surrounding plots.

Jenő Sipőcz (lawyer, Mayor and later the first Lord Mayor of Budapest, 1878–1937) changes the museum’s name to Capital History Museum.

Due to the lawsuit filed by the descendants of Miksa Schmidt, the Capital History Museum moves in only years after the Kiscell mansion was left to them. In this same year, the modern collections are moved here from the building in the City Park.

Previously belonging to the modern collections, the Medieval Lapidarium operates from 1942 as an individual department under its own director under the name Medieval Museum.

Mayor Zoltán Vas (politician, writer and journalist, 1903–1983) appoints the former building of the Buda Town Hall under 2 Szentháromság Street to be the new venue of the Medieval Museum in January 1945.

The collections of the Petőfi Museum are handed over to the Capital History Museum by the Petőfi Association, remaining there until 1953.

Established to carry out Prehistoric, Migration Period and Medieval archaeological excavations in 1936, the Department for Excavations and Archaeology is transformed into this collection with the direction of Tibor Nagy.

Presenting the Modern Age history of Budapest, the first city history exhibition opens in the Károlyi Palace, entitled ‘Our Capital 1800–1873’.

Following the siege of Budapest, the first archaeological excavations are carried out during the rebuilding of the Palace with the leadership of László Gerevich (art historian, archaeologist, museum director, 1911–1997). Destroyed in the 17–18th century, the ruins of the medieval palace are unearthed in the course of these excavations.

The Center for Museums and Built Heritage renames the museum and gives the title of Director General to its leader.

The Municipal Council decides on establishing the Municipal Fine Arts Collection whose primary task is to collect artworks created after 1945.

According to the new museum law, the Budapest History Museum is included in the group of museums whose collections are of national interest, serving both a scientific and a popular educational purpose.

After the renovation is finished, the Medieval Museum and the Directorate of the Budapest History Museum are the first cultural institutions moving into the Royal Palace of Buda.

Hundreds of sculpture fragments are discovered in one of the courtyards of the former Royal Palace in the basement of a medieval house. The excavations are lead by László Zolnay (archaeologist, art historian, 1916–1985).

The Directorate includes the Department of Public Art and the Department of Fine Arts.

The Budapest Gallery is born by renaming the Fine Arts Directorate of Budapest.

By clearing out and transforming the adjoining former church at the Kiscell Museum, an exhibition space is created, primarily to host fine art exhibitions. At the same time, the Municipal Fine Art Collection is allowed to use the name Municipal Gallery from now on.

The employees of the Museum are rewarded by the municipality with the Pro Urbe Award for their outstanding professional achievements in the realization of the exhibition commemorating the unification of Pest, Buda and Óbuda.

The new office building near the site with the ruins is finished – its first “residents” are the Department of Antiquity and the Department of Prehistory and the Migration Period. The museum leaves the Károlyi Palace for good.

According to a decision by the Municipal Council of Budapest, the Budapest Gallery (with its two departments, the Exhibition Department and the Budapest Public Art Department) becomes part of the Budapest History Museum.

In the framework of the Pannonia Provincia Programme, the construction of a virtual experience space, a mythological playground and the so-called “Painting House”, as well as a new reception area at the Aquincum Museum, with the support of the European Union.

After leaving the Budapest Exhibition Hall in the Klotild Palace, the New Budapest Gallery will open in the Bálna building, hosting temporary contemporary art exhibitions. The exhibition space closed in 2019.

The Bartók Memorial House was managed by the Budapest Historical Museum between 1979 and 1989, and since then it has been part of the Budapest Historical Museum again.

Planned by Gyula Orczy (architect and municipal councilor, 1874–1939), the first building of the Aquincum Museum opens on 10 May, consisting of a foyer and only one room.

The only known Ancient Roman water organ is unearthed by Lajos Nagy (archaeologist, historian and museum director, 1897–1946). Its discovery gets a huge press coverage both in Hungary and abroad, garnering an almost instant international recognition for one of the most significant finds of the museum.

Established to carry out Prehistoric, Migration Period and Medieval archaeological excavations in 1936, the Department for Excavations and Archaeology is transformed into this collection with the direction of Tibor Nagy.

The new office building near the site with the ruins is finished – its first “residents” are the Department of Antiquity and the Department of Prehistory and the Migration Period. The museum leaves the Károlyi Palace for good.

In the framework of the Pannonia Provincia Programme, the construction of a virtual experience space, a mythological playground and the so-called “Painting House”, as well as a new reception area at the Aquincum Museum, with the support of the European Union.

The Directorate includes the Department of Public Art and the Department of Fine Arts.

The Budapest Gallery is born by renaming the Fine Arts Directorate of Budapest.

According to a decision by the Municipal Council of Budapest, the Budapest Gallery (with its two departments, the Exhibition Department and the Budapest Public Art Department) becomes part of the Budapest History Museum.

After leaving the Budapest Exhibition Hall in the Klotild Palace, the New Budapest Gallery will open in the Bálna building, hosting temporary contemporary art exhibitions. The exhibition space closed in 2019.

According to the will of Miksa Schmidt (architect, interior designer, furniture manufacturer and art collector, 1861–1935), his mansion in Kiscell (a district of Óbuda) is left to the capital. His terms include the establishment of an applied arts museum from the mansion’s furniture as well as the creation of a public park on the surrounding plots.

Due to the lawsuit filed by the descendants of >Miksa Schmidt, the Capital History Museum moves in only years after the Kiscell mansion was left to them. In this same year, the modern collections are moved here from the building in the City Park.

The Municipal Council decides on establishing the Municipal Fine Arts Collection whose primary task is to collect artworks created after 1945.

By clearing out and transforming the adjoining former church at the Kiscell Museum, an exhibition space is created, primarily to host fine art exhibitions. At the same time, the Municipal Fine Art Collection is allowed to use the name Municipal Gallery from now on.

Presenting the Medieval carved stone artefacts discovered in the Castle District, the northern tower of the Fisherman’s Bastion operates as the Medieval Lapidarium until 1952.

Previously belonging to the modern collections, the Medieval Lapidarium operates from 1942 as an individual department under its own director under the name Medieval Museum.

Mayor Zoltán Vas (politician, writer and journalist, 1903–1983) appoints the former building of the Buda Town Hall under 2 Szentháromság Street to be the new venue of the Medieval Museum in January 1945.

Following the siege of Budapest, the first archaeological excavations are carried out during the rebuilding of the Palace with the leadership of László Gerevich (art historian, archaeologist, museum director, 1911–1997). Destroyed in the 17–18th century, the ruins of the medieval palace are unearthed in the course of these excavations.

After the renovation is finished, the Medieval Museum and the Directorate of the Budapest History Museum are the first cultural institutions moving into the Royal Palace of Buda.

Hundreds of sculpture fragments are discovered in one of the courtyards of the former Royal Palace in the basement of a medieval house. The excavations are lead by László Zolnay (archaeologist, art historian, 1916–1985).