The Armenian Genocide Memorial and Museum

This short article attempts to provide brief information about the Armenian Genocide Memorial complex. By visiting this place, you will not only commemorate the victims but also delve into historical documents, aiming to prevent future tragedies by remembering the past.

The Armenian Genocide Memorial complex or Tsitsernakaberd is Armenia's official memorial dedicated to the victims of the Armenian genocide, built in 1967 on the hill of Tsitsernakaberd Yerevan, while the Genocide Museum-Institute was opened in 1995.

Every year on 24 April, the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, thousands of Armenians gather at the memorial lay flowers and commemorate the victims of the genocide.

The construction of the monument began in 1966, during Soviet times, in the aftermath of the 1965 Yerevan demonstrations. During these demonstrations, one hundred thousand people gathered in Yerevan for 24 hours to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the genocide. They demanded that the Soviet authorities officially recognize it as a genocide.

The memorial is designed by architects Arthur Tarkhanyan, Sashur Kalashyan and artist Hovhannes Khachatryan and was completed in November 1967.

The construction of the Genocide Memorial Complex

The memorial has twelve slabs in a circle, representing the twelve lost provinces in present-day Turkey. In the middle, there's an eternal flame for the 1.5 million people killed during the Armenian genocide. The 44-meter tall stele symbolizes the national rebirth of Armenians. There's also a 100-meter wall listing names of towns and villages where massacres and deportations took place.

Entrance to the museum

The museum opened in 1995 for the 80th genocide anniversary. The structure, designed by architects Sashur Kalashian, Lyudmila Mkrtchyan, and sculptor F. Araqelyan, is unique. It's a two-story building built into a hill not to take away from the Genocide Monument. The roof is flat, overlooking the Ararat Valley and Mount Ararat.

The first floor has offices and Komitas Hall, seating 170 people. The museum exhibit on the second floor is just over 1,000 square meters.

Documents and photos concerning Armenian Genocide

Visiting the museum is part of the state protocol in Armenia. Many official foreign delegations, including Pope John Paul II, Pope Francis, President Vladimir Putin, Presidents Jacques Chirac and Francois Hollande, have visited. The museum has historical documents and offers guided tours in Armenian, Russian, English, French, and German.