University History Museum

Overview

The History Museum of Cluj University was established upon the initiative of the Rector’s Office of Babeș-Bolyai University in January 2001 and opened to the public in June of the same year. After operating for a few years on I.I.C. Brătianu Street, in 2007, the museum moved to its current location on Mihail Kogălniceanu Street, no. 4 (on the first floor of the Faculty of Theater and Film).

The museum’s mission is to highlight and disseminate the many aspects of the complex academic life in Cluj. Its main objectives are to preserve academic memory and facilitate connections between the university environment and the community.

The museum tour provides a comprehensive overview of university life in Cluj, spanning from the 16^th century to the present day, accompanied by insights into the local cultural history of Transylvania. Whether you want to discover the history of Babeș-Bolyai University or learn more about the history of Cluj higher education institutions, generally, the University History Museum is the ideal starting point.

The museum collections include over 1,000 original items and facsimiles (student notebooks, yearbooks, university textbooks, documents, diplomas, postcards, photos, various scientific instruments, medals, etc.) that illustrate the teaching and research activities of past and present students and professors.

Activities

The range of activities carried out by the Babeș-Bolyai University History Museum is diverse and complex. The main activities focus on promoting the local museum, cultural, and historical heritage, encouraging links between schoolchildren and the academic environment of Cluj, guiding students, and concluding cooperation agreements with Romania’s research and cultural institutions.

The museum’s heritage is showcased annually through temporary exhibitions, either in its own space (for the Night of Museums) or in other locations of Babeș-Bolyai University or its partner institutions. During these events, we invite visitors to participate in various types of museum education activities (discovery trails, questionnaires, puzzle games, contests with prizes, etc.).

To maintain close ties with the Cluj community and promote local history, our museum specialists regularly organize theme-based guided tours in the central area of Cluj, on Mihail Kogălniceanu Street, and in the surrounding areas.

For middle and high school students, a series of theme-based lessons on the history of Cluj and the history of education in Romania and Europe is available upon request.

Interested students can sign up for volunteer work and/or specialized internships at the University History Museum.

Museum collections

Some of the museum’s exhibits