The Lahij History and Ethnography Museum was established on a public basis in 1985 under the Lahij State Historical and Cultural Reserve. On November 21, 1990, it was officially granted museum status by a decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
During its operational period, the museum was housed in the historic Ağolu Mosque and its auxiliary buildings in Lahij. According to a decision by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated August 14, 2019 (Decision No. 356), the museum was transferred under the jurisdiction of the State Tourism Agency.
Considering the potential risks associated with storing scientific collections and continuing the museum’s operations in the historic building, the Lahij History and Ethnography Museum was temporarily relocated to the Lahij Community Center in May 2020. The museum staff consists of 10 members.
Between 2020 and 2021, in collaboration with specialists from the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), work on the inventory and classification of material and cultural samples in the museum’s scientific collection was completed. The museum’s collection has been further enriched with gifts from local residents. Following the re-inventory, 1,191 items in the Lahij History and Ethnography Museum’s collection have been assigned inventory numbers.
Until a new building is designated for the museum, it has been decided to maintain the scientific collection and display a portion of it at the Lahij Community Center. The State Tourism Agency continues to work towards providing the museum with a new facility, ensuring modern standards of service, and preserving the exhibits under appropriate conditions for future generations.
