Visakhapatnam has volumes of history to talk about. But the credit of preserving records about the Visakhapatnam's past goes to the Visakha Museum, also called Corporation Museum. The Visakha Museum is located at an old Dutch Bungalow on the RK Beach Road.

The Museum has some of the best and finest artistic items put on display. Portraits, some of them even at life-size depicting the members of the Royal family of the Vizianagaram and Bobbili, Two Armour suits, two stands of spears and muzzleloading guns, several ancient weapons such as steel bows, handguns that date back to the British-rule times are some of the things one should not miss.

The Visakha Museum also showcases some of the artifacts collected from other institutions. These include the 250-lb bomb that was dropped by the Japanese during the World War II. The shell bomb did not however explode. The shell bomb is now put on display at the Museum.

The Museum preserves the coconut that was broken by the then Prime Minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru when he came for the inauguration of the first ship that was indigenously built – the S.S Jala Usha.

The Bronze busts used by the first Indian Chairman of Visakhapatnam Port Trust Nanjundiah were also preserved.

Father of the Nation – Gandhiji has lots of connections with Visakhapatnam. The Museum has a nice collection of photographs of Gandhiji – particularly the ones during his visit to Vizag when he stayed at the Nkitam House. The desk used by him during his visit was also preserved. The desk was later used by Tenneti Vishwanatham.

The Museum is currently headed by Curator Prof. E.V. Gangadharam who was also the Director, Centre for Marine Archaeology. Mr. S. Prabhu Das is the Superintendent-in-charge, Museum.

Friends of Museum Society

A society under the name of Friends of Museum Society was formed. The overall objective is to promote the utilisation and growth of the Museum. The Society will have the Mayor of the City as its patron and will elect its own Executive body.

History of the Visakha Museum

The Visakha Museum was set up at the Dutch Bungalow which itself has volumes of history to speak about. The Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority took over the Bungalow during the 1980's and though of developing it to a Five Star Hotel. Members from the Visakha Historical Society and the general public of Vizag loves to have the building to be a Museum and thus the works for the re-designing of the Bungalow began. The Museum was inaugurated by the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Mr. N Janardhana Reddy on the 8th of October 1991.

Contacting the Visakha Museum

Visakha Museum
Dutch Bunglow
RK Beach Road
Visakhapatnam
Telephone: +91-891-2549215