Addis Ababa Museum | መስቀል አደባባይ
About This Museum
Tucked away in the heart of the city, just a stone's throw from the bustling መስቀል (Meskel) Square, the Addis Ababa Museum feels like a quiet secret waiting to be discovered. It’s not a massive, overwhelming institution but an intimate journey through the soul of this electric capital. I was completely drawn into the vintage black-and-white photographs that line the walls, each one telling a raw, unfiltered story of the city's transformation from its earliest days. You get this incredible sense of walking through a family photo album, if your family happened to have founded a sprawling metropolis.
Collection Highlights
The collection shines with its poignant photography archive and fascinating artifacts from daily life in old Addis, including traditional coffee sets and historic currency. Don't miss the detailed diorama model showing how the city looked decades ago—it’s a real highlight that puts everything into perspective.
Visitor Information
It's super easy to find on Bole Road near Meskel Square. The museum is compact enough that you can soak it all in without needing a full day, making it a perfect cultural pit stop between coffee ceremonies.
Architecture & Building
Housed in a charming, older building that feels authentically of the city, with unpretentious architecture that lets the history inside take center stage.
Contact & Location
Address: አዲስ አበባ / Addis Ababa, Arada, አዲስ አበባ Addis Ababa أديس أبابا, አዲስ አበባ أديس أبابا, 3578, ኢትዮጵያ إثيوبيا
Phone: +251 97 739 9667
