Dzitoghtsonts House Museum

Region

Shirak

Distance from Yerevan

119.5 km

Type

Museum

Today, one of the most attractive and most visited museums in Gyumri was once the home of a wealthy local merchant. The museum is an old mansion made up of several buildings. It encapsulates the history of Gyumri, daily life, local culture, and the city's architectural features. The house dates back to 1872, when one of four brothers who moved from the village of Dzitogh in Western Armenia to Alexandropol — Petros Dzitoghtsyan — built it. Constructed from Shirak’s red tuff, the building was designed on a slope: one story on the eastern side and two on the western. In 1984, it was transformed into a museum called “Museum of Urban Life and National Architecture of Gyumri.” It has two main halls. The first presents elements of the Dzitoghtsyan family life — their room furnishings, a piano from Italy, and other furniture from Russia and Europe. Local craftsmanship is emphasized through carpets, handmade items, and modern artworks. The second hall features 19th-century photos of old Gyumri and maps of Alexandropol. One wall is creatively decorated with antique keys, and a model diorama of the old city is displayed inside.