The Military Museum in Cairo is famous for its rich collections and historical building which was originally a palace during the reign of Mohamed Ali, the founder of the royal family that ruled Egypt from 1805 through 1952.
It was established in 1947 after the British forces evacuated the Saladin Citadel and was officially inaugurated two years later. It was recently modernized in cooperation with North Korea and reopened on 29-11-1993 by President Hosni Moubarak.
It records the history of the Egyptian army since the Pharaonic times till now .It is divided into three pavilions and three storeys, each having several halls.
It exhibits the development in weaponery and military equipment and uniforms, besides 220 paintings of famous battles as well as the most important military decorations, orders and medals.
First Storey:
It comprises Al Magd Hall at the museum entrance which exhibits a royal carriage from the time of Khedive Ismail (1863-1879). The Medal Hall, the Artillery Hall and the Weapon Hall. They exhibit the development in weaponery and military equipment and uniforms, besides 220 paintings of famous historical military battles as well as the most important military decorations, orders and medals.
Second Storey:
It comprises army exhibits in the Old Kingdom (Pharaonic Egypt), the Middle Kingdom and New Kingdom. Among its prominent exhibits are the chariot of Tutankhamon of the XVIII Dynasty and a man-of-war from the Pharaonic New Kingdom (1580-1085) BC.
Third Storey:
It comprises exhibits of the Islamic army in general and the Egyptian army in particular. It also houses various models of the Islamic army that conquered Egypt, as well as paintings depicting famous Islamic battles.
The museum comprises 250 statues and busts representing leaders of the Revolution and of the royal family as well as commanders of the army.