Astan Quds Razavi Central Museum

The Astan Quds Razavi Central Museum, founded in 1937, is a public museum in Mashhad located near the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza and Gowharshad Mosque. It displays an eclectic mix of items including coins, stamps, European clocks, astronomical instruments, marine animal pictures, old tombs of Imam Reza, and early photographs from Iran.

Don't miss

• Old tombs of Imam Reza on display
• Pictures dating back to the beginning of photography in Iran
• European clocks and astronomical instruments
• Coins, stamps, and paper money collections
• Seashells and marine animal exhibits
• Arms and armor from the 2nd floor

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Astan Quds Razavi Central Museum

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Getting there

Know before you go

• The original museum building was demolished in 1972 and replaced by a five-storey building completed in 1977.
• The collection includes photographs dating to the beginning of photography in Iran.
• Its holdings span coins, stamps, paper money, clocks, astronomical instruments, arms, armour and marine specimens.

A bit of history

The idea for the museum emerged in the late Qajar period after a museum opened in Golestan Palace, but it was not until 1936 that a collection was selected and the museum incorporated. The original building was demolished in 1972, and collections were moved to a temporary hall until a modern five-story building was constructed in 1977 with architecture by Borbor Consulting Group and assistance from English museum experts. After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the museum expanded under Ayatollah Abbas Vaez Tabasi.