ATHENS, GREECE.- Staff of Greece's National Archaeological Museum are seen at its renovated entrance, Athens 11 January 2005. Part of Greece's most celebrated museum, which displays some of the country's biggest archaeological treasures, was closed after a 1999 earthquake. The construction of the museum was begun in 1866 and completed in 1889 with the gradual addition of the west wing in 1874, of the north in 1881, of the south in 1885 and finally, of the east wing. The building was erected in a large plot donated by Helen Tositsa, with the financial support of Demetrios and Nicolaos Vernardakis, the Archaeological Society and the Greek state.

The building of the museum was originally designed by the architect Ludwig Lange but his plans were partially modified by Panages Kalkos and later, by Harmodios Vlachos and Ernst Ziller, who completely rearranged the facade and changed the plan of the east wing and the central hall. Two additions were made on the east side of the building; a new wing was constructed in the early 20th century based on the plans of Anastasios Metaxas and a two-storeyed building, designed by G. Nomikos, was erected in 1932-39.