National Museum of Military History, Military museum in Sofia, Bulgaria
The National Museum of Military History is a military museum in Sofia that combines indoor galleries with a large open-air section displaying heavy equipment. The collections cover Bulgarian military history from the 19th century through the late 20th century.
The museum was founded in 1916, during the First World War, making it one of the first institutions of its kind in Bulgaria. Over the following decades its collections grew, and by 1968 it had taken on its current name and form.
The outdoor area draws many families, as visitors can walk right up to tanks and aircraft on open ground. Inside, uniforms and personal items give a close look at how soldiers lived and equipped themselves over time.
The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday and the grounds are accessible for wheelchair users. Since the outdoor section covers a good amount of space, comfortable shoes and a full afternoon make the visit more enjoyable.
Among the outdoor exhibits is an original MiG jet that visitors can walk right up to, something rare for a museum of this size in Europe. Some of the vehicles still carry their original paint, giving a sense of how they looked in active service.
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