Established in 1964, the Faltaits Museum was one of the first local historical folk art museums. It was created by Manos Faltaits towards preserving the traditional Skyrian heritage, and to serve as an example for the rest of Greece that tradition had a part to play in both the present and the future.
Housed in the residence of the “Faldai” family – a family whose roots go back to Byzantium - the museum dominates the north-eastern side of the town. It stands on the biggest tower, known locally as “Paleopyrgos”, on the very ancient Pelasgian walls of Skyros.
Rich in both myths and history, the museum has developed into one of the most well-endowed and best-organised folk art museums in Greece. It contains four separate collections:
I. Numerous items of the traditional and contemporary folk art of Skyros, i.e. embroideries, costumes, ceramics, textiles, woodcarvings, metalwork, furniture and everyday-use items, etc.
The "Skyrian House" is part of this collection, and is represented in one of the halls of the museum in its traditional form, including all the special woodwork for which the island is famous, such as the "boulme", the shelves, the "pagos" and the "stamnoustatis". All the decorative items typical of the Skyrian house are present: old ceramics, glass, embroideries, copper and bronze items, traditional furniture, etc.
The collection also includes the traditional costumes of the island, reflecting the social structure and the aesthetics of the inhabitants.

II. The library of the museum. Includes rare publications dating from the 16th to the 19th century, covering the "Greek Enlightenment" period, and picturing the cultural level and aims of Hellenism at that period.
These books where collected under the guidance and care of the intellectual Dimitrios Faltaits, grandfather of Manos Faltaits.

III. The rich collection of historical documents includes documents dating from the Byzantine era and the period of Turkish occupation, and documents relating to the time of the War of Independence (published and private).
They include the Declaration of the War of Independence as issued by the "Filiki Heteria", and as proclaimed by the Patriarch of Constantinople.

IV. A unique collection of over 3000 objects and tools collected from all over Greece and representing its traditional economy.
The items of the collection are displayed in dedicated roofed and partly roofed areas of the park of the museum, picturing the traditional trades and workshops of Greece.
In these areas and in the park, which is full of trees and flowers, the museum organises model programs for learning traditional crafts and workshops. The programs combine teaching with actual practice.
Conferences, meetings, and educational programs relevant to Greek culture and tradition are organised in the same grounds and premises, in co-operation with other institutions.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

1. Since its creation, the Faltaits Museum has been a “living” institution inseparable from the everyday life of the island, and is one of the few private museums in Greece also organising cultural events. Commencing in the summer of 1993 after the completion of a 1,000-seat open-air theatre built upon the hillside directly below the main museum building, each summer during July and August the Faltaits Museum hosts cultural and artistic events. These events are realised with the help of young volunteers who come from Skyros and all over Greece.

2. Voluntarism in theory and practice has been a main axis for the museum's activities since its foundation.
With the aid of the Greek Secretariat for Youth, the Museum founded the "European Centre for Voluntarism". This is a centre promoting the European idea and the idea of voluntarism through conventions, international meetings, creation of Youth Networks etc.

3. In general, the museum's philosophy promotes the sensitisation and active participation of young people in traditional culture and its utilisation in today's life.
In this context, the museum organises meetings, conferences, and educational programs.