User:Emthrace/Ethnological museum of Thrace

History
The Ethnological Museum of Thrace is a Non – Profit Organization that has been open since 2002, with the purpose of preserving the historical memory of Thrace as well as studying and showcasing Thrace’s culture to the rest of the world. Based in Alexandroupolis in a stone neo-classical building constructed in 1899, it is a self-funded establishment occasionally funded by various organizations.

An active force in the cultural activities of the wider area of Thrace, in 2005 it was nominated for the European Museum Award and received praise for its contribution to the local society.

In 2015, the Ethnological Museum of Thrace was honored by the Benaki Museum for its significant role in keeping the historical memory of Thrace alive, as well as for its research and promotion of the traditions and customs in Thrace on a national and international level.

The building's history
The building of the Museum, constructed in 1899, used to be the city mansion of Mitiadis Altinalmazis, hailing from the patriarchal Altinalmazis family from Ainos and Adrianople, known for their noteworthy service to the country during 19 th and 20 th century.

Mr. M. Altinalmazis was an excellent legal person and a linguist with great encyclopedic knowledge. He was an elder Statesman and consultant of the General Adrianople Administration (Medglis Idare Azaçi), a rank of great importance, which he used to serve the interests of the Greek Society of Adrianople and those of the wider region, by helping many Greek children get university education. He was known among his peers as a great economic agent and created a Bank, a Plant and standard agricultural estates. Between 1903 and 1905, he was awarded the medal Meciadiye class C, a distinction for significant people of Ottoman Empire.

In 1937, the building was sold as part of a dowry agreement, by Miltiadis Altinalmazis’ widow, Zenobia, to Chrisoula Vasileiou Sotiriadou’s grandfather from Ortaxi as a dowry. The latter’s wedding to lawyer Gregoris Chrisostomou from Samothrace have the dwelling prestige, since Chrisostomou also served as minister of Mercantile Marine and Island Policy.

Restoration and maintenance
In 1998, the building was leased by the family of Polychronis Gannakidis, who restored and remodeled it. The latter, inspired by the primordial memory and uniqueness of folk tradition, gave it new life and character. The dwelling was restored with the most modern equipment and amenities, so that it could live up to the expectations of modern Museum operation.

The stone facade of the building was restored after carefully removing various layers of paint and cement coatings. Furthermore, the building's tiled roof was repaired and insulated in order to protect the monument.

Inside careful removal of various paint layers of the wooden ceilings and floors was performed, with repairs wherever deemed necessary. This particular building, is one of the few remaining preeminent architectural samples of a past era in the city of Alexandroupolis and is among the history and construction projects and events of infrastructure and development of the newly-founded then Dedeagats.

Legal protection of the building
On the 01/04/1993 the building is declared as protected under the following regulation by The Ministry of Culture (Greek: Υπουργείο Πολιτισμού) ΦΕΚ με αρ. φύλλου 296 (01/04/1993 ΤΕΥΧΟΣ Δ)

On 17/12/2019 the building is declared a monument under the following regulation by The Ministry of Culture (Greek: Υπουργείο Πολιτισμού) ΦΕΚ με αρ. φύλλου 754 (17/12/2019 ΤΕΥΧΟΣ Δ)

On 08/01/2020 the building is declared a monument by the Directorate of Protection and Restoration of Modern and Contemporary Monuments of The Ministry of Culture (Greek: Υπουργείο Πολιτισμού).

Projection
A TV special about the building where the Ethnological Museum of Thrace is located by the tv show Urban Landscape (Greek: “Αστικό Τοπίο” on the Greek Parliament tv channel on architecture.

Exhibits
The collection of the Museum consists of 5,000 items, an archive that includes 6,000 photos and 3,000 documents, 3,700 books and 450 records from field research. Part of the Museum collection is exhibited in the Museum and counts 500 pieces organized into the following thematic sections:

Ground floor:

 * Maps
 * Traditional costumes of Thrace
 * Music and worship in Thrace
 * Pottery
 * Copperware
 * Nutrition and pre-industrial confectionery

Basement:

 * Sorgon
 * Honey
 * Water
 * Cultivation of the land
 * Cereal
 * Wine
 * Tobacco

Patio & adjacent building:

 * Sesame oil press
 * Dye works and textiles

The exhibited ethnological and historical collection is divided into two time lines:


 * The progressive linear timeline of the historical presence in Thrace, that appears to be particularly accelerated, especially since the urbanization of the region during the 19th and for the most part in the 20th century.
 * The long idle period following the dissemination and seed cycle that is promptly tied to agricultural activities.