The Gegharkunik Museum of Local Lore is located in the town of Gavar and has operated since 1952. It presents the history of Gegharkunik from the Old Stone Age to the most recent period. More than 8,427 museum items are preserved here, of which 2,318 are displayed in 6 halls.
One of the museum's most important sections is the archaeology department. Here are preserved stone working tools, an ancient millstone, an anchor, bronze daggers, and jewelry. Of special value are the cuneiform inscription of the Urartian king Rusa I and the boundary stele bearing the Aramaic-script inscription of Artaxias I (Artashes I).
The museum also includes ethnographic and everyday household items, craft samples, coins, photographs, documents, medals, and works of art.
The museum regularly organizes temporary exhibitions as well. For example, in various years it has presented national-ethnographic items, samples of coppersmithing, Armenian salt containers, costumes, as well as exhibitions dedicated to the lives and work of individual public figures.
