Our Story

The Hvar Heritage Museum is a public, non-profit institution whose mission and institutional responsibility are rooted in long-term and continuous care for the island’s natural and cultural heritage. Through a wide range of activities, the Museum seeks to meet the needs of society and the local community: by collecting and researching tangible and intangible evidence and testimonies of life on the island of Hvar from prehistoric times to the present, particularly from the area of the Town of Hvar and its settlements.

At the same time, the Museum promotes communication about this heritage in various ways and encourages understanding of the relationship between the past, the present, and future development. The Museum strives to strengthen its cultural purpose and social role as a welcoming and accessible place for inspiration, learning, research, discussion, and community, as well as a relevant and reliable point of promoting scientific knowledge and cooperation with institutions, organizations, and individuals interested in actively caring for the island’s heritage.

History of the Museum

The Hvar Heritage Museum traces its beginnings to 1950, when the Municipality of Hvar founded the Historical Archive under the initiative of Dr. Niko Duboković. Originally dedicated to collecting and preserving archival material, the institution soon expanded its scope to monument protection, the creation of museum collections, and documenting the island’s cultural and natural heritage.

In 1965, the Archive became the Center for the Protection of the Cultural Heritage of the Island of Hvar, with activities ranging from archival and library work to museum and conservation efforts. Museum collections were established across the island, supported by a network of local trustees.

In 1998, the Center was restructured into the Hvar Heritage Museum, focusing on safeguarding and presenting the island’s rich cultural legacy. Today, the museum holds sixteen collections that form the foundation of its scientific, cultural, and educational activities.

Collections

Grgur Bučić Cabinet

The legacy of the versatile natural scientist Grgur Bučić was collected in 1953 by Niko Duboković.

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