History of the Tokyo National Museum

The first exhibition was held by the Museum Department of the Ministry of Education at the Taiseiden Hall, which was also the inauguration of the first museum in Japan; in this year the Tokyo National Museum came into being. Soon after the opening, the Museum moved to Uchiyamashita-cho, then in 1882 moved again to the Ueno Park, the current location. After that for more than 140 years, the museum has been transforming through organizational reforms and administrative changes, reflecting the policy of each time.
1872 – Opened on the occasion of an exposition at Yushima Seido, Tokyo, held by the Museum Bureau of the Ministry of Education.
1875 – Transferred to the Ministry of the Interior. The following year the museum had eight exhibition categories: natural history, agriculture and forestation, industrial technology, art, history, education, religion, and land & sea.
1882 – The museum moved to its current location in Ueno, to a site formerly occupied by the abbot`s residence of Kan`eiji temple. The original main building, designed by British architect Josiah Conder, opened.
1889 – Reorganized as the Imperial Museum under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Household Ministry, Kuki Ryuichi appointed Director General; Okakura Tenshin appointed Director of Art.
1900 – Renamed the Tokyo Imperial Household Museum
1909 – Hyokeikan built to commemorate wedding of the Crown Prince
1917 – Mori Ogai appointed Director General
1923 – Original main building (Honkan) is damaged and destroyed in Great Kanto Earthquake
1925 – Natural history collection transferred to Tokyo Museum of the Ministry of Education
1930 – Kuroda Memorial Hall opened
1938 – Present Honkan opened
1947 – Transferred to the Ministry of Education and renamed as the National Museum
1952 – Renamed the Tokyo National Museum
1954 – Kuromon of the Ikeda family transferred to the museum
1964 – The Gallery of Horyuji Treasures opened
1968 – Placed under control of the Agency for Cultural Affairs and Toyokan opened
1978 – Hyokeikan building designated as "Important Cultural Property"
1984 – Research and Information Center opened.
1999 – The Gallery of Horyuji Treasures and Heiseikan opened
2001 – Became Independent Administrative Institution National Museums, Tokyo National Museum
2001 – Honkan building designated as "Important Cultural Property"
2005 – National Museum is expanded with addition of Kyushu National Museum
2007 – Integrated into Independent Administrative Institution National Institutes for Cultural Heritage, as the Tokyo National Museum Kuroda Memorial Hall became part of the Tokyo National Museum.