Cseri Miklós - Horváth Anita - Szabó Zsuzsanna (szerk.): Discover Rural Hungary!, Guide (Szentendre, Hungarian Open Air Museum, 2007)

Some Historical Facts

folk architecture were designated as suitable for protection. Surveys and basic research started and databases and landregisters set up. Ethnographic science seized upon folk architecture and began undertaking serious research. As a consequence, Hungarian ethnographers and protectors of monuments gained enough knowledge to lay the foundation for the Hungarian central skanzen. The Hungarian Open Air Museum in Szentendre was founded in 1967, at first it was the Vitlage Museum Department of the Budapest Ethnographical Museum, but then in 1972 it became independent. It covers an area of 46 hectares in the vatley of the Sztaravoda river Uniquely in Europe a network of regional skanzens were also established in Hungary alongside the establishment of the national open air museum. These were the Göcsej Village Museum in Zalaegerszeg (1969]; the Vas Museum Village in Szombathely (1973); the Sóstó Museum Village in Nyíregyháza |1979); the Szenna Open Air Ethnographic Collection (1980] and in 1985 the Ópusztaszer National Historical Memorial Park opened its gates. Almost at the same time a number of regional houses were preserved and furnished in situ and opened to the public. At the present time there are almost 400 such buildings. The aim of Szentendre Open Air Museum is to present folk architecture, interior decoration, farming and the way of life of the Hungarian language area from the 2nd half of the 18th century to the 1st half of the 20th century, through authentic objects and original, relocated houses arranged according to traditional settlement patterns. Ultimately it is planned to relocate more than 400 buildings to the museum which will be arranged into village-like regional units on the BMBB^MMtlillllM^ The space shuttle in Washington Gorbachov and Reagan Columbia is launched on sign the treaty for the elimination of midits first voyage. range rockets. | « 1981 • 1987 The Museum is qualified as a Kisalföld regional unit is mm scientific research centre. wrm completed.