Ajaibghar as it was known during those days, a mini hall having some collection of arms and old photographs where now Assembly hall has been erected within in New Sectt. Jammu is considered to be first step towards setting up of museum in Jammu and Kashmir. This building was erected in commemoration of the visit of King Edward VII when he came to Jammu as Prince of Wales in 1875. In the year 1954
a committee was organized under the Presidentship of Shri G.M.Bakshi, Prime Minister of J&K Shri G.M.Sadiq, Education Minister, Shri G.L.Dogra, Finance Minister, Master Sansar Chand Baru famous Artist and Prof.R.N.Shastri (now Padamshri) were the members of the committee. Some space in the Gandhi Bhawan Hall adjacent to New Secretariat was allotted to this committee for housing and display of artifacts. This was named as Dogra Art Gallery. Many important collection was added to Dogra Art Gallery that includes the acquisition of set of Rasmanjari series of world famous Basohli miniature paintings and some rare manuscripts like beautifully illustrated Shahnama and Sikandernama in Persian. The space occupied by the Dogra Art Gallery at Gandhi Bhawan thus kept foundation of first Museum in Jammu and Master Sansar Chand Baru was appointed its first Curator(Head). Dogra Art Gallery was inaugurated by Dr.Rajender Prasad, His Excellency the first President of India on 28th of May,1954. The Dogra Art Gallery was shifted to its present location in Mubarak Mandi in 1991 and renamed as Dogra Art Museum. Dogra Art Museum, Jammu is a government museum and biggest museum in Jammu region.The museum is unit of Directorate of Archives, Archaeology and Museums, J&K Government under the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, J&K Government.
