The wealth of material and spiritual culture of Knjaževac and its environment - the origin and migrations of the population, traditional economy, habitation culture, traditional costumes, social life, national customs and beliefs were all significant and interesting areas for scientific research – and since the foundation of the Ethnological Department in 1980 it was an interesting area for scientific and research work.

Ethnological exhibition is located on the first floor of the right wing of the Homeland Museum of Knjaževac building. The rich and diverse ethnological collection contains objects from the XVIII to the XX century, photographs, audio and video recordings. By the number of objects and their beauty some of the collections can be emphasized, such as: trade items, public and civil costumes, woven belts, construction and architecture, houseware, vessels, homecraft, distaffs, textile products, musical instruments, technical devices and folk custom objects. Especially interesting is the collection of double-string knitted socks from the Timok area dating from the XVIII to the XX century, which exists as a separate whole in the Homeland Museum of Knjaževac and represents a unique collection accompanied by over 1000 handmade cardboard patterns and motifs.

The Department of Ethnology is presented in a part of the Homeland Museum display, as well as in the home of Aleksa Aca Stanojević – City Museum with the interior setting "Knjaževac in late XIX and early XX century”.