The National Museum "Earth and People" - Sofia is a state cultural institute of national importance. It performs nationwide functions of searching, acquiring, studying, preserving and presenting minerals and mineral resources as an important part of the national natural heritage. Participates in the implementation of the state policy on studying and preserving the cultural heritage, together with the competent state and municipal authorities. It provides methodological and other assistance to museums from the national museum network.
The building of the National Museum "Earth and People" was built at the end of the 19th century as the largest building of the then military workshop (Sofia Artillery Arsenal). One of the first buildings with a complete reinforced concrete structure. It is declared immovable cultural value.
In 1986 it was granted free of charge for the construction of the Earth and People Museum. The building was restored and adapted according to the project of arch. Hristo Ganchev. The interior, the museum props and the way of exposure were developed by Prof. Ivan Radev and the monumental painting was done by Prof. Teofan Sokerov.
In administrative and methodological terms, the museum is managed by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Bulgaria.
The museum is a temple of charity, a creation of generosity and patriotism. It is created entirely with donations of Bulgarian and foreign physical and juridical persons. The overall realization of the museum, including the restoration and adaptation of the building, was made with money from the National Donation Fund "13 Centuries Bulgaria". As of December 2017, a total of 77% of the samples in the main fund of the museum were acquired via donations from 959 Bulgarian and foreign donors.
The collection of "Giant Crystals from Brazil", donated by Iliya Delev in 1985, has the greatest scientific and cultural value.
The museum has rich and well-stocked funds. By January 2017, there are over 31,000 museum units. All materials are systematized in 7 sections. The section "Mineral Resources of Bulgaria" keeps samples of about 400 Bulgarian fields and wrecks. The most attractive part of the museum is the exhibition "Giant Crystals" - one of the two major expositions in the world; "Minerals of the Earth" is the richest systematic collection in the Balkans, comprising more than 7700 samples of 1611 mineral species, with a total of 5200. "Minerals of Bulgaria" is the most complete collection of Bulgarian minerals and contains 4191 samples of which 309 mineral species. "Precious and Decorative Stones" has 2,668 samples of all kinds of precious stones.
The National Earth and People Museum is the initiator of a number of events such as: Earth Day International Day (April 22); World Water Day (March 22); World Environment Day (5 June); European Days of Minerals; Sofia International Exhibition of minerals, fossils and precious stones; Day of Mercy; Museum Donor Day; Sofia Initiative for the Conservation of Mineral Diversity. The museum conducts extensive educational and educational activities with a young audience, using various forms such as: "Children's Corner"; "Interactive Corner"; "Geology Cabinet"; "School of Geology and Mineralogy", "Summer School of Mineralogy and Geology" and others. Each year over 16,000 children pass through the museum.