The State Museum, Lucknow, the oldest in the State, was established in 1863. The idea of having a repository of specimens of art and history was conceived by Col. Abbott, the then Commissioner of Lucknow Division. Beginning modestly as a Municipal institution in Chhoti Chhatar Manzil, it became a Provincial Museum in 1833 and was shifted in 1884 to the Lal Baradari. Dr. A.A. Fuhrer, a well-known archeologist, became the first curator inMarch 1885. Indologists like R.D. Banerjee, Pandit Hiranand Shastri, Dr. V.S. Agarwal, Dr. Bhagawat Sharan Upadhyaya and Prof. K.D. Bajpai, were associated with the Museum in various capacities.

In 1950 the Provincial Museum was redesignated the State Museum, Lucknow, and in 1963 Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru inaugurated the new building in which the expanding collection of the Museum was housed. The Museum has a collection of about 83000 specimens broadly classified into five major sections: archeological, numismatic, art, natural history and ethnography. Apart from these, the collection also has representations of ornaments, arms & armours, manuscripts & firmans, musical istruments and other miscelaneous items.

The Museum's acquisitions are by purchase of antiquities, through exploration and finds under the Treasure Trove Act. Efforts have ben made to ake the presentation of items lively,natural and scientific. The Museu is a centre of educational and cultural activities, organizing lectures, symposia, workshops, film shows and exhibitions highlighting Indian culture and archeology. It is also a research centre for Kanpur University with a specialized reference library, well-equipped photographic and conservation laboratories for the treatment and restoration of art objects. The Museum also has a modelling section to prepare replicas of selected pieces in plaster of paris & fibre-glass.

The Department of Posts issue this stamp on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the extablishment of the State Museum, Lucknow.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India