National Military Museum, Cairo

The Military Museum in Cairo is dedicated to the military history of Egypt from the age of the Pharaohs. It is an interesting museum for history buffs and tells the story of the wars that shaped the country's history.

It is housed in a palace that was once the residence of Mohammed Ali Pasha, the founder of the dynasty that ruled Egypt between 1805 and 1952. Visitors are greeted by a statue of his son Ibrahim Pasha at the entrance. The museum was established in 1947 by the British and opened in 1949. In 1993, the museum was renovated with the help of experts from North Korea.

The Military Museum consists of three floors and three wings with several halls. The first floor has a royal carriage belonging to Khedive Ismail, a hall displaying medals, a weapon display and an artillery display. The second floor has collections of weaponry and military devices from the age of the Pharaohs. The Chariot of Tutankhamon and a man of war from the Bronze Age are interesting objects on display. The third floor has military displays relating to the Islamic armies of Egypt including paintings showing their exploits. There are over 250 busts of famous Egyptian historical military heroes at the museum.

Why You Should Visit:
Entry is free with the admission to the Citadel, so it's certainly no loss to visit if you have some time to spare.