The National Museum of Iran, also known as the Ancient Iran Museum, is the country’s first official museum, located on 30th Tir Street in Tehran. Spanning over 20,000 square meters, it consists of two main sections: the Museum of Ancient Iran and the Museum of Islamic Archaeology and Art of Iran. The museum houses more than 300,000 objects from various periods of Iranian history, ranging from prehistoric times to the Islamic era.
The museum was initiated in 1929 by Reza Shah and officially opened in 1937. French architects Andre Godard and Maxime Siroux designed the building, blending modern museum architecture with influences from ancient Persian structures. Initially named the Museum of Ancient Iran, it adopted the current name (National Museum of Iran) after the Islamic Era section was added in 1996.
The main building is rectangular with three floors. Its entrance features side passages leading to expansive halls. Godard drew inspiration from ancient Persian architecture, incorporating elements reminiscent of historic Iranian monuments.
The museum’s Ancient Iran section includes two two-story buildings housing exhibition halls, libraries, and conference rooms. The ground floor presents artifacts from the end of the 4th millennium BC to the Sassanid era, including clay figurines from Shahr-e Sokhteh, the statue of Darius I, Parthian bronze statues, and the Saltmen.
The first floor focuses on the earliest human civilizations, from the Paleolithic era to the end of the 4th millennium BC, showcasing stone tools, pottery, and other relics from key archaeological sites.
The Islamic Era Museum, designed by Eugene Aftandelians in 1943, officially opened in 1996. Inspired by the Sassanid palace of Bishapur, the museum spans three floors and 4,000 square meters.
First Floor: Halls featuring Islamic art from the Timurid, Safavid, Afshar, Zand, and Qajar periods. Exhibits include manuscripts, paintings, calligraphy, carpets, and inlay works.
Second Floor: Artifacts from early Islam, the Seljuk era, and the Ilkhanate, including Qur’ans on deerskin, pottery from Nishapur and Kashan, Gorgan glassware, textiles, stucco, and golden vessels.
The Holy Qur’an Hall displays a rare page written by Baysunghur, once carried by Nader Shah during his campaigns, exemplifying the historical and cultural richness of Iran’s Islamic heritage.
Spring & Summer: Daily from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Autumn & Winter: Daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
For official and detailed information, visit the National Museum of Iran’s website.
