The Collection
In 1972 Paul and Alexandra Canellopoulos donated their collection to the Greek State. The collection contains over 6.000 artifacts of the Ancient Greek Civilization covering a span of almost 5000 years. The visitor has the opportunity to admire diverse objects like tools and vases of the Neolithic period and folk jewelry of the 19th century.

The museum was founded in 1918 by the poet Georgios Drosinis and a group of Athenian Intellectuals. During that time Greek artists came to appreciate the folk art for the first time and thought that it could be an inspiration to modern art. Initially, the museum was situated in the Tzistarakis Mosque (now it contains a pottery collection). Today it is situated in a building in Plaka, the old town of Athens.