Following the end of the Civil Lebanese war in 1990, and the destruction of Saint Georges Orthodox Cathedral. 

Dr Leila Badre and the cathedral’s management decided that they would build an underground museum to preserve the archaeological remains “in situ” (in place) and to display selected artifacts from the excavation.

Visitors entering the museum first see a cross-section of the ground where the excavation took place with each of the six eras of the cathedral history . Eight layers of occupation from the Hellenistic period to the present, including the remains of five, possibly six successive churches were found during the excavation process, and the ruins are being preserved in the crypt museum. St Georges Cathedral have a large collection of rare and old icons .Bullets are still seen on the Icons.

Though the area is small, an excellent and atmospheric archaeological display outlines elements from different parts of the city’s history: Seleucid to medieval, with the highlights being Byzantine mosaic floors and a number of spooky tombs. There are good information panels and a seven-minute documentary giving an informative overview of the cathedral’s history.