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The State Museum complex is part of the Republic Square and is the most dominant building of the ensemble. It comprises of three museums – The State History Museum of Armenia, The National Gallery of Armenia and the Eghishe Charents Museum of Literature and Arts. The current structure is a multilayered building whose foundation stretches back to 1915. Originally a gymnasium for boys, this two storey building of black tufa was given to the ministry of cultural affairs soon after the 1920 revolution. The State Museum as well as various other cultural institutions were located on the site, but in time, most of the space was taken up by the gallery and the history museum. A fourth museum, – of October Revolution – was also established as part of the complex, but it was eventually dissolved in 1991.

After the growth of the collection, the building was exapnded and remodelled. Its original facade facing the square was redesigned by architect Mark Grigoryan and covered in white travertine. In 1978 a large, eight storey addition was co-designed by the same architect together with Eduard Sarapyan to house the National Gallery. While not considered a successful architectural solution, the building has now become one of the undisputable symbols of Yerevan.

FURTHER READING:

http://www.panorama.am/am/society/2010/05/10/azgayin-patkerasrah/