Founding of the Museum:

The National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina was founded in 1888 and is the oldest among the modern cultural and scientific institutions of Western type in Bosnia and Herzegovina . A line of historical events influenced its establishment. A number of individuals and groups had for a long time prior to its founding emphasized the need for such an institution. The first idea of founding of the museum dates back to 1850. However, nearly four decades passed from the idea to its realization. Two empires ruled over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the meantime - the Ottoman rule gave way to the Austro-Hungarian one.
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Development of the Museum:

Since the very beginning of its work, the National Museum has developed as a complex cultural and scientific institution nourishing a number of scientific and scholarly disciplines, i.e. history, geography, archeology (prehistoric, ancient and medieval), ethnology, history of art and natural history (biology, geology and mineralogy), partly language, literature, statistics and bibliography. Studies of these disciplines have with time taken the shape of the three present departments, namely the Department of Archeology, Department of Ethnology and Department of Natural History. A lot of attention has always, since the beginning of work, been given to the educational and culturological function of the Museum. Museological activities have also created a basis for acquiring of all the existing collections through research work in the field, purchase, exchange or gifts to the Museum.
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