History museum 1878 – 1918

On the corner of “Apelov kej” and “Franjo Josip” Street (today known as Kulina bana Boulevard and Zelenih beretki Street) on June 28, 1914, Gavrilo Princip, a high school student from Sarajevo and a member of the secret organization “Young Bosnia,” controlled by the secret society “Black Hand,” carried out an assassination of the Austro-Hungarian heir to the throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and his wife, Sophie. This assassination led the Austro-Hungarian monarchy to hold Serbia directly responsible, resulting in an ultimatum sent to Serbia on July 23 and the subsequent outbreak of World War I.

 

The Austro-Hungarian government erected a monumental monument to Franz Ferdinand and Sophie Hohenberg on the Latin Bridge, across from the site of the assassination. The monument was removed after the establishment of a new state, the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, and later the Museum of the Sarajevo Assassination was opened, featuring the footprints of the assassin Princip. After the end of the recent war, the museum exhibition was restored, and the museum was renamed the Museum “Sarajevo 1878-1918”. The museum presents the history of Austro-Hungarian rule in this area, from the arrival of Austro-Hungarian troops and the new administration to changes in housing and living culture, new crafts, economy, architecture, and the development of science and art.