The idea of establishing a museum in Kranj was born before the First World War. In 1953 the Municipal Museum of Kranj was founded and had its seat in the Prešeren House. In 1957 a second museum was established in Kranj – the Gorenjska Regional Museum, renamed the Museum of the People's Revolution in 1961. The Municipal People`s Committee of Kranj merged the two museums into the Gorenjska Museum, Kranj in 1963. In 1993 the administrative, working and exhibition rooms were moved from the Baroque mansion to their present location at Khislstein Castle. Today in addition to Prešeren House it incorporates Kranj Town Hall, the Birthplace of Dr France Prešeren, Vrba, the Birthplace of Franc Saleški Finžgar, Žirovnica, Kranj Archaeological Site, the Museum of Alpine Dairy Farming, Stara Fužina, Oplen House, and the Tomaž Godec Museum. All the major museum branches are represented in the museum, along with a series of auxiliary services (restoration and conservation workshop, historical archives, photo-laboratory, picture library, and library).
From the outset Gorenjska Museum has taken a keen interest in contemporary art and events in Gorenjska, which are continuously reflected in its gallery activities. A Department of Slovene Photography operates within the museum. The museum is also a very active publisher, especially of the cycle Gorenjski kraji in ljudje ('Places and People of Gorenjska').
See also