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The historic and ethnographic exhibition is housed in one of the two buildings known as Alexandrov's Houses - after their first owners. These form a unique architectural complex from the second half of the XIX century.
Yet at the doorstep, visitors are welcomed by a lady donned in traditional attire. This is actually a curator, who shows them around and explains the exhibits, related with everyday life and clothing of old-time Zlatograd population. Especially interesting is the demonstration of housewife skills in home weaving and yarn preparation: carding, spinning, doubling, etc.
The introductory hall exhibits archeological finds from Zlatograd Ethno-Cultural Aerial. These come from four historic epochs:
². Thracian period (the first population of our lands, about which historical evidences exist) - from the second millennium B.C. until the Roman conquest of Thracian lands south of the Danube in 45 A.D.
²². Roman rule: from the middle of I c. A.D. till the end of the IV century, when the Roman Empire broke in two parts: Western and Eastern (in 395 AD).
²²². Early Byzantine period - from the end of IV c. till the formation of the Bulgarian state in the second half of the VII century (681).
²V. Bulgarian period - from the formation of Bulgarian state until it fell under Ottoman rule (681 - 1396).
The first half of the next hall is dedicated to the two traditional vocations of old-time Bulgarians: tilling and breeding of animal (mostly sheep and goats). The presentation includes:
- tilling tools and specimens of major crops grown in Zlatograd area;
- traditional tools used by animal breeders, dairy utensils and household items (including some for the breeders' leisure time).
The second part of the hall shows traditional kitchenware (querns, mortars and suchlike). These are followed by a valuable collection of traditional garb from Zlatograd and the adjacent villages.
Especially impressive is the ladies' attire used for special occasions, particularly the pinafore (historically, this is the oldest type of typical female garment, sporadically used nowadays, too).
The second floor of Alexandrov's House includes a spacious parlor, two rooms and a verandah.
Two separate vitrines in the parlor display ceremonial jewelry and other belongings typical of the Middle Rhodopes (but with specific local features). Naturally, most exhibits relate to ladies' decoration and knickknackery (mainly silver alloys).
This is the only Bulgarian museum collection to show a traditional lady hat (part of garb suite) with full set of metal decorative gear. Especially memorable is the ceremonial decoration known as "amulet with slips".
No less than admirable are the superb skills and inborn artistry of Bulgarian women, expressed in the crafting of traditional dowry (robes and gowns).
Further on, the exhibition boasts a smartly arranged panel of lady stockings with multicoloured combinations, in which ancient magical symbols are enciphered.
A vertical loom for large-sized bed covers (woven of wool and goat hair) is installed in the first room. This is the oldest type of loom in weaving history at all. And again it must be said that a museum item like this is nowhere else to be discovered in Bulgaria. Only here can it be seen "live".
The second room replicates the traditional setting of a Zlatograd living room from late XIX and early XX century. Multifunctional as it is, a single room like this can well substitute for an entire modern apartment...
