Museum of Secret Surveillance

The Museum of Secret Surveillance (Albanian: Muzeu i Përgjimeve të Sigurimit të Shtetit), also known as House of Leaves (Shtëpia me Gjethe) is a historical museum in Tirana, Albania. It opened on 23 May 2017 in the building that served as the Sigurimi's headquarter during the communist era.

Museum of Secret Surveillance
Muzeu i Përgjimeve të Sigurimit të Shtetit
House of Leaves museum
Former name
House of Leaves
Established23 May 2017 (2017-05-23)
LocationTirana, Albania
Coordinates41°19′36″N 19°48′59″E
TypeCommunism history museum
WebsiteOfficial website

The museum is "dedicated to the innocent people who were spied on, arrested, prosecuted, convicted and executed during the communist regime."[1]

History

The museum is housed in a two-story villa with a courtyard that dates from 1931 and originally served as the first private obstetrics clinic in Albania, while during the German occupation, the building was used by the Gestapo. After the war it was used as the Sigurimi's interception headquarters until the collapse of the communist regime in 1991.[2][3][4]

The Museum of Secret Surveillance opened on 23 May 2017. The building is located in the city center. The building is known as the “House of Leaves”, so called because of the clambering plant that covers its facade. It has 31 rooms.[5]

The museum was awarded the prize of European Museum of the Year Award 2020 by the Council of Europe.[6]

See also

References
  1. Morton, Elise. "House of leaves: Albanian secret service facility opens as museum". The Calvert Journal. Retrieved 2019-01-18.
  2. "New Sigurimi Museum Recalls Albania's Sinister Past". www.balkaninsight.com. Retrieved 2019-01-18.
  3. "House of Leaves Tirana, Tirana Museums, House of leaves museum". www.visit-tirana.com. Retrieved 2019-01-18.
  4. Times, Tirana (2017-05-24). "Notorious communist surveillance 'House of Leaves' opens up as remembrance museum". Tirana Times. Retrieved 2019-01-19.
  5. Planet, Lonely. "Former Albanian secret service HQ opens to the public in Tirana". Lonely Planet News. Retrieved 2019-01-19.
  6. "THE "HOUSE OF LEAVES" (TIRANA, ALBANIA) WINS 2020 MUSEUM PRIZE".


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