The National Geographic Society Museum, Cairo

The National Geographic Society Museum, Cairo

The National Geographic Museum is a museum complex in Cairo consisting of a small museum devoted to ethnography, a large library and a hall used for debates and lectures on geography related subjects.

The Cairo National Geographic Museum was commissioned by Khedive Ismail in 1875. He gave 600 acres of land to the museum to provide revenue for the museum. It was given the status of an independent institution and the revenue was to keep the institution independent. The purpose of the National Geographic Museum was to assist European explorers and missionaries who were exploring the source of the River Nile.

The Cairo National Geographic Museum has an ethnographic section devoted to exhibits about the lifestyles of the people of Egypt and Africa from the 19th Century. Objects reflect the habits and customs of people from different parts of Egypt. They consist of jewelry, ornaments, toys, musical instruments, public baths and objects used in wedding ceremonies. The large debating hall can seat an audience of 500 people. The 12th International Conference for Geography was held here and was chaired by King Fouad. There is also a vast research library with a large collection of books on Geography. Many of the books are about early explorations of Egypt and Africa by European explorers.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Cairo. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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The National Geographic Society Museum on Map

Sight Name: The National Geographic Society Museum
Sight Location: Cairo, Egypt (See walking tours in Cairo)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery

Walking Tours in Cairo, Egypt

Create Your Own Walk in Cairo

Create Your Own Walk in Cairo

Creating your own self-guided walk in Cairo is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Old Cairo Walking Tour

Old Cairo Walking Tour

Old Cairo, otherwise known as Coptic Cairo or Masr al-Qadima, largely predates the city of Cairo as we know it. Some Egyptologists think that a settlement here existed as far back as the 6th century BC. Later, the Romans built on the site a fortress named Babylon. Today, this ancient threshold of history is still in place, its weathered ramparts and sturdy bastions bearing witness to the ebb and...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles
Cairo Downtown Walking Tour

Cairo Downtown Walking Tour

Egyptians often refer to Cairo as Maṣr, which is the Arabic name for Egypt. This is due to the city's importance for the country, in part manifested by its closeness to the ancient pyramids. Indeed, the area of present-day Cairo has been the center of Egypt since the days of the pharaohs. The strategic territory at the base of the Nile Delta first hosted the town of Memphis.

By the 4th...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles

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17 Uniquely Egyptian Things to Buy in Cairo

17 Uniquely Egyptian Things to Buy in Cairo

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