National Museum of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa (must see)

The National Museum of Ethiopia presents the country’s history in a clear and practical way, starting with early human origins and moving toward recent centuries. The museum developed from the Institute of Archaeology founded in 1958 and is best known for its role in paleoanthropology. Its most famous exhibit is “Lucy,” a 3.2-million-year-old Australopithecus afarensis fossil discovered in 1974 at Hadar. Visitors usually see a detailed replica, while the original bones are kept securely and shown only on special occasions.

The basement level focuses on early human history. Fossils, stone tools, and skeletal remains are arranged in a timeline, helping visitors follow how early hominids lived and evolved. Alongside Lucy, the museum also displays “Selam,” a very well-preserved child fossil discovered in 2000. Short labels explain where the finds came from and why they matter, making this section easy to understand without scientific training.

The ground floor covers ancient and medieval history, including objects from the Aksumite and Solomonic periods. Displays include coins, inscriptions, religious items, and artwork that show how early states, trade, and belief systems developed. This section links archaeology with written history and helps place the country within wider regional connections.

The upper floors focus on more recent history and daily life. One level displays royal objects and imperial-era items, including Emperor Haile Selassie’s wooden throne and personal belongings. Higher floors present ethnographic collections, with traditional clothing, tools, household objects, and crafts from different regions. The museum is easy to navigate, and most visits last about one to one and a half hours.