History of the Museum
15th and 16th century
Dmine Papalić and Marko Marulić visit the ruins in Solin, studying and collecting ancient inscriptions, which they stored in the Papalić Palace.
From 1910
The City Library is established on the first floor of the Bernardi Palace, collecting not only books but also objects of historical significance. The library’s founding and its early collecting efforts are credited to Professor Dušan Mangjer.
From 1925 to 1946
Library and museum functions operate together under one roof, with acquisitions supported by the director, local citizens, and the municipal authorities.
4 January 1945
The City Library and City Museum sign an agreement transferring collections, marking the beginning of the City Museum’s independent operation.
Summer 1949
The City Museum adopts its current name, the Split City Museum.
23 November 1952
The museum is officially opened to the public in the newly renovated premises of the Papalić Palace.
1984
Under the leadership of Deša Diana, the museum undergoes its final major restoration and adaptation, a four-year project that fully refurbished the Papalić Palace complex, including offices, exhibition areas, and storage facilities.
1992
The SPLIT CITY MUSEUM full permanent exhibition is opened.
2001
The City of Split grants the museum use of the Neoclassical house on Poljana Kraljice Jelene for the Emanuel Vidović Gallery.
End of 2006
The Emanuel Vidović Gallery is opened.
31 July 2003
The Venetian Tower is placed under the museum’s management.
17 April 2014
The museum takes over the management of the Substructures of Diocletian’s Palace.
2015
The South-eastern Tower of Diocletian’s Palace comes under the museum’s management.
Late 2018
The Split City Museum becomes a partner of the City of Split, the lead organisation of the ITU project “Palace of Life – City of Transformations”, together with the Split Tourist Board and RaST d.o.o.
The project included the refurbishment of the museum’s ground floor with a new permanent exhibition, as well as the South-eastern Tower of Diocletian’s Palace.
Joško Belamarić, PhD and the company Organizirano oblikovanje d.o.o. are commissioned to implement the ground floor permanent exhibition.
2021
The museum assumes management of the Old City Hall.
The Water Museum opens in the former waterworks building.
2024
The City of Split and the Split City Museum, in collaboration with the “Karlo Grenc” Foundation and Karlo Grenc, announce the opening of a new museum space and research centre.