Monday-Tuesday-Thursday-Friday: 9:00-14:00 | Wednesday: 9:00-20:00 | Saturday: 10:00-14:00
The first building on the site of today’s Museum, of the Greek Consulate is built.
Establishment of a Macedonian Museum
The idea
The idea of a museum at the site, however, was not new: in April 1917, not long after Macedonia had been integrated into Greece, the Provisional Government of Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos enacted Decree 2134 for the establishment of a “Macedonian Museum”, with a much broader scope. This Museum was to bring together all-important archaeological finds marking the various historical and artistic periods of Macedonia, from antiquity to the end of the Ottoman era.
The efforts to establish the Museum continued into the 1940s by the Macedonian Educational Brotherhood and. after 1950, a group of private individuals, prominent public figures and descendants of famous Macedonian Fighters undertook this initiative. In the meantime, the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki had already been founded and the establishment of another museum covering Byzantine times had been decided. This meant that there was a need for a specialist institution that would be devoted exclusively to the period of the Macedonian Struggle. Therefore, in December 1965, the Prime Minister of Greece, Stefanos Stefanopoulos, signed a decree for the founding of the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle at the building of the former Consulate General of Greece in Thessaloniki.
This vision became a reality on 27 October 1982, when our Museum was formally inaugurated by the President of the Hellenic Republic, Konstantinos Karamanlis. A few years later, the Museum was placed under the responsibility of the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle Foundation, which closely cooperates with the Association of “Friends of the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle”; in fact, three of its members, in line with the Foundation’s charter, sit on its Board of Directors.
The Friends of Museum of Macedonian struggle
A year later, in 1979, the – association “Friends of the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle”, was founded which requested the reopening of the building to the public as a museum. The building was restored under the supervision of the Polytechnic School of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Τhe Organization of School Buildings conceded the building to the Association, in order to house the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle. On 27 October 1982, the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle was inaugurated by the then President of the Hellenic Republic, Konstantinos Karamanlis.
Timeline
1881
1890
The fire of 22 August burned the building to the ground.
1893
The construction of the new building designed to plans of renowned German architect Ernst Ziller is finished.
1894-1912
It houses the Greek Consulate General in Thessaloniki. The first General Consul was Georgios Dokos.
1904-1908
The Consulate General of Greece in Thessaloniki functioned as the informal headquarters of the Greeks during the Macedonian Struggle. In charge was the General Consul of Greece Lambros Koromilas, who organized a network of spies throughout Macedonia. The Consulates of Greece in the Macedonian vilayets (Thessaloniki, Monastiri, Kosovo), the so called “Centres“ played a crucial role in Koromilas’ plans.
1912-1913
Macedonia was liberated and became a part of Greece. The consulate stopped its function. The building became a property of the state.
1915-1978
The building housed successively: the Agricultural Bank of Macedonia, the National Bank, the 21st Elementary School, soup kitchen of the Hellenic Red Cross (during the German occupation), a Girl’s School, a Night School and the 43rd Elementary School.
1978
After that year‘s disastrous earthquake, the building was renovated. The government granted the building to the association of the “Friends of the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle”, in order to house the Museum.
1982
The Museum of the Macedonian Struggle was inaugurated by the President of the Hellenic Republic Konstantinos Karamanlis. At the same time the Research Centre for the Macedonian Struggle (ΚΕΜΑ) was founded.
1985
The Greek Guiding Association conducts the first educational programmes..
1989
The permanent exhibition of the museum is designed by George Anemogiannis.
1999
In 1999 the association “Friends of the Museum for the Macedonian Struggle” founded the non-profit Foundation for the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle. KEMA was renamed as Research Centre of Macedonian History and Documentation.
2005
In 2005, the Museum became part of the Operational Programme “Culture”. The subject matter of the Museum was expanded and the history of the Macedonian Struggle is presented in a more modern way and new media.
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Opening Hours
Contact hours:
Monday-Friday 09.00-14.00
Exhibition Halls
Monday-Tuesday 9.00-14.00
Wednesday 9.00-20.00
Thursday-Friday 9.00-14.00
Saturday 10.00-14.00
Contact
(+30) 2310 229 778
info@imma.edu.gr
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