Not to be confused with the Hungarian National Gallery (”Nemzeti GalAria”), located in Buda Castle. Founded in 1802 by Count Ferenc SzAchenyi, whose manuscript, map, numismatic and print collections formed its initial core holdings, the Hungarian National Museum was designed and built by the popular architect MihA?ly PollA?ck between 1837-1847. When it opened, it was the fourth largest museum in Europe and ”’the first public museum”’ in the Hungarian capital. The building became the symbol of the 1848-1849 Revolution so every year on the National Day (March 15) usually commemoration held here. However, it was far enough from the city proper that sometimes loose cattle from the weekly KA?lvin tAr market wandered into the museum.
Before entering, take note of the museum’s exterior, a fine example of neoclassical architecture, with an exceptional portico. Eight Corinthian columns support a frieze with an ornamental cornice and a large pediment. The pediment features the allegorical figure of Pannonia (”Pannonia” was the Roman name for the Hungarian lands) sitting with the Hungarian coat of arms on her shield, surrounded on either side by Science and Art.
The exterior of the museum is also significant for what has taken place there. According to a popular urban legend during the 1848 revolutions that swept through Central Europe, on 15 March, SA?ndor Peta fi (perhaps Hungary’s most famous patriotic poet) recited his emotionally gripping poem called National Song to a large crowd from the left pillar of the National Museum’s exterior staircase. This poem pleaded with the nation to liberate Hungary from the Habsburg oppression. Not everyone was impressed. The director of the museum recorded in his diary that a noisy mob had gathered outside the building that day, disturbing his work so much that he left for home.
Major acquisitions and collections donated by the Kubinyi, Pyrker, MarczibA?nyi and Jankovich families rapidly expanded the museum’s holdings. Late in the 19th century some collections were separated from the general holdings to form new specialized museums such as the Museums of Fine Arts, Applied Arts, Natural Science and Ethnography. Today the museum’s five major divisions (archaeology, Middle Ages, modern era, numismatics, historical paintings), two permanent exhibitions, and archaeological library (with over 100,000 volumes!) make it one of the richest museums in Central Europe.