The Ethnographic Museum was established in 1901. The first permanent exhibition was opened on September 20th, 1904, the First Serbian Uprising Centenial. The collection had 8.000 objects at that time. The number increased ti 50.000 ethnographic objects and about 100.000 paintings, drawings, photograophs, documents, about 60.000 books and magazines. There is also the archive, audio and video documents on the customs and events in national culture. The Ethnographic Museum collects, preserves researches and presents numerous traditional culture types of Serbia, other parts of the former Yugoslavia, Europe and other parts of the world, encompassing mostly the 19th and 20th century. The collection consits of: objects/entities: national costume, ornaments, agriculture and cattle breeding, hunting and fishing, crafts, trades, handicrafts, national architecture, religious objects, objects related to customs, folk art, etc. The Museum has a publishing department. It publcishes the Gazette, The Ethnogaphic Museum Bulletin, books, publications, catalogues...
The Museum is situated in Students Square 13, the building of the former Stock Exchange, designed by Architect Borisavljevich. The Collection of Hristivoje Crnilovich is located in Gavrila Principa Street 6, (Manakova kuca- Manak's House)