Kutaisi State Historical Museum

The museum, which was established in 1921–22 in the former National Bank of Georgia building,^[2] contains more than 200,000 artifacts,^[3] displaying the archaeological, numismatic, paleographical, ethnographical and spiritual heritage of Georgia. Artefacts date from between the 9th Century BC, to the Late Medieval period.^[1] The museum displays artefacts from across Georgian, Byzantine, and Roman history, including manuscripts, items of jewellery, pottery, leather, textiles and woodwork. Of particular interest is the Gold Treasury hall, displaying a large number of religious gold pieces, removed from the Bagrati Cathedral which was closed during the Soviet era due to the regime's rules against religion.^[4]

The museum displays the collection across 10 rooms, over two floors. In addition, there is a library which holds over 40,000 volumes, including a number of manuscripts. The museum also publishes several newspapers about its collections, and an annual magazine.^[4][5]

In 2007, restoration work started on the museum.^[6]