The anniversary exhibition presents the first century of the museum’s development, focusing on what the museum would not be without today—its founders represented by the Ministry of War, donors, and the choices made by museum workers in assembling the various collections that shaped its current appearance.
Only on July 5, part of the exhibition will display extremely valuable exhibits – unique items, most of which have never been presented to the public before. Among them are the Great Collar of the Order of St. St. Cyril and Methodius, the highest distinction of the Kingdom of Bulgaria, whose only owner and Grand Master is the monarch; the daily and official sceptre of Boris III – one of the most valuable royal symbols, custom-made; Fabergé eggs and expensive jewellery. To allow everyone to see them, the museum will be open with extended hours.
As a tribute to those who have made the NMHM exist for a century, emblematic relics of the museum’s greatest donors will be presented. Among them are the undisplayed personal sabers and daggers of the first Bulgarian prince Alexander I, as well as the Grand Cross of the Military Order “For Bravery,” donated by Countess Johanna Hartena. The penholder and inkpot with which Gen. Pravoslav Tenev wrote the Order for the establishment of the Military Museum, and the writing desk on which Gen. Zhekov initialed it, will also be part of the exhibition.
The variety and diversity of artefacts preserved in the museum for this century will also be exhibited through some of the little known but extremely interesting collections, such as the Musical Instruments
collection, which combines the art of war with that of music, and the the “Archive” collection, which immerses us in the vast world of state and public documents, scientific publications, and topographic maps. Even the widely known “Flags” collection will be presented with little-known elements from the army’s battle flags – symbols of statehood and independence.
For the first time, the museum will lift the curtain and introduce visitors to the hidden world of the museum—its storage facilities.
Especially for its youngest friends, the NMHM has prepared an exhibition space for children, where they will not only learn new things while having fun and experiencing models of military vehicles, but will also become real museum workers in an interactive game.
