Nizami Museum of Azerbaijan Literature

In the center of the ancient city of Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, a building that attracts everyone’s attention is decorated with blue-green eyebrows, with magnificent statues of six prominent Azerbaijani vocabulary artists—Fuzuli, Vaqifin, M.F.Axundov, Natavan, J.Murduzad, and J.Cabbarl. It is the National Azerbaijani Literature Museum, named after the great Azerbaijani poet Nizami Gandhi.

For more than 70 years, this sacred palace, considered the only literary museum in the world, has been a preacher of the ancient culture and rich heritage of the Azerbaijani people.

At first glance, the history of the museum’s building, which attracted attention with its architectural style, begins in the mid-19th century. In 1850, a one-story caravan built near the walls of the Castle, which surrounded the ancient inner city, was later added to the second floor by the project of Gasim Prince Hacıbabayev, the chief architect of the Baku province. Alexander Nikitin, a civil engineer, prepared a banking hall on the second floor, and in 1915, at the request of Azerbaijani millionaire Hadjiak Dadeshov, the building became the Metropol Hotel. From 1918 to 1920, the Cabinet of Ministers of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan used it as a residence and a workplace. In the 1920’s and 1930’s, the building was owned by the Azerbaijani Cooperation Union. In preparation for the 800th anniversary of the great Azerbaijani poet Nizami Gandhi, the KGS decided on November 1, 1939, to transform the building into a museum about the life and creativity of Nizami Gandhi. In 1943, the façade and interior of the building were used in a national style, and prominent representatives of Azerbaijani literature were Fuzuli (sculptor: F. Abdurrahmanov), Vaqif (J.Garyaghi), M.F.Axundov (sculptor: P The statues of Natavan (sculptor: E.Tripolskaya), J.Murduzadə (sculptor: N.Zacharov), J.Cabbarl (sculptor: E.Klyatskin).

The museum’s exhibition, which meets modern world standards, is rebuilt, fully computerized, and enriched by innovative means, reflects the development of Azerbaijani literature. Visitors from all over the world to Azerbaijan are pleased to visit the Literature Museum. Ancient manuscripts, material samples, paintings, carvings, rare printing books, passionate miniatures, manuscripts of famous lines, numerical examples, writers’ memorabilia, documentary photographs, sculptures, maps, and artifacts are exhibits that attract visitors’ attention. Through monitors at the museum’s updated exhibition, visitors can get acquainted with valuable audio-video materials—fragments from various films, stage works, works by prominent Azerbaijani composers, and poetry examples of well-known actors.

Several halls have also been created in the museum’s new exhibition. Visitors are also fascinated by the exhibition, which reflects the creativity of Nasiruddin Tusi, Sams Tabrizi, Zulfugar Shirvani, Molla Qasim Shirvan, King Ishmael Khatai, Hasan Ghazi Zerdabi, and Hussein Cavid. In a new exhibition that reflects the tragedy of the victims of repression, viewers have the opportunity to see photos of the “Delo” that were first opened to innocent people.

The museum’s halls are decorated with new paintings—portraits, paintings, and illustrations. The exhibition hall, which reflects modern Azerbaijani literature, is of great interest to viewers with valuable documents and personal items. The clock adds a different atmosphere to the museum’s exhibition. The watches of outstanding nobles seem to bear witness to their moments behind the writing desk.

The museum’s monitor hall contains extensive information about Azerbaijani literature, culture, and customs in Azerbaijani, Russian, English, German, and Persian. South Azerbaijani literature and migration literature have not been forgotten.

The museum’s main mission is to introduce guests to Azerbaijan’s rich literary heritage. Every day, guests come to the museum with them. Among them are prominent government officials, scholars, visitors, students, and schoolchildren. Each of them is inspired by the atmosphere in the museum, recording heartwarming words to the Book of Rout. These words are examples of thousands of valuable spectators who have written in the museum’s memorial book, such as “Museum is a mirror of Azerbaijani culture,” “The Museum is a window open to the world,” and “We saw, liked, and loved.”