Estonian National Museum

58.37790826.711546Koordinaten: 58 ° 22 ' 40 "N, 26 ° 42 ' 42" O

The Estonian National Museum (Estonian Eesti Rahva Muuseum - ERM) is located in South-Estonian Tartu. It includes the most important collection of the Estonian folk culture and the rural roots of the Estonian people worldwide.

History

The Estonian National Museum was founded in 1909 in the Livonian Tartu ( Dorpat German ) still under Tsarist rule. The aim was to contribute to the collection and preservation of the Estonian folk culture.

The museum is the legacy of the Estonian folklorist Jakob Hurt (1839-1907) committed one of the most important early collectors of Estonian folk art. The collection of ethnographic objects from the second half of the 19th century formed the basis of the present museum. One of the initiators of the establishment of the Estonian National Museum was the Estonian diplomat, linguist and folklorist Oskar Kallas ( 1868-1946 ).

In 1913, four years after its foundation, presented the city of Tartu to the museum first suitable premises. 1922 the museum moved in the Tartu district Raadi in a representative mansion around and hired a salaried director. 1923, the first permanent exhibition was opened.

During the Second World War, the main building of the museum was badly damaged by fire in 1944. It was used during the Soviet occupation of Estonia as accommodation for the Red Army. The museum moved to the Tartu city center and was called " State Ethnographic Museum of the Estonian SSR " ( Eesti NSV Riiklik Etnograafiamuuseum ) reopened. The collections themselves were distributed all over the city housed in different buildings.

1988, under the sign of glasnost and perestroika, the Estonian National Museum was returned to its original name. 2003, a new site for the future modern exhibition building of the museum was acquired in Raadi. Construction began in 2009. 2011, the new house will open its doors to the public.

Collection

The museum comprises the history, lifestyle and traditions of the Estonians and other Finno- Ugric peoples and national minorities living in Estonia dar.

A collection of Estonian folk costumes from all regions of the country is shown. The various rural traditions, festivals and holidays of the rural population of the Estonian 19th and 20th centuries are represented graphically. Besides shows, inter alia, the museum Handicrafts and woven fabrics with traditional patterns. Photographs, drawings, films and other archival material and objects round out the collection.

The Estonian National Museum regularly organizes lectures, conferences and colloquia on Estonian folklore.

The current permanent exhibition " Estonia. Country, people, culture " ( Eesti. Maa, rahvas, Kultuur ) is divided into the areas of popular culture, festivals and holidays, folk art, external influences.