n December 1981 the association Amis du Musée of Pontarlier was born. Twenty years have enabled the members of this association to live a passionate adventure which they share with an ever increasing number of people.
The Amis du Musée which started with just 30 members has grown to 700.
      Devoted to their city, their region and its patrimony, they have aided the museum both financially and culturally.

      They have centered their activities on the promotion of the Museum of Pontarlier, to enrich its collections by the purchase of artwork, assisting in the setting up of temporary exhibits and editing post cards, posters, catalogues…
      Different committees have been created to carry out studies and research on the museum collections (absinthe,ceramics,paintings and photography). The association members have also been available for different cultural events such as the Salon d'Annonciades (Annuciation Chapel Art Show) the Salon du Livre(Bookfair) and various conferences.

      Finally, because they are friends, the members travel to and visit expositions and organise trips of a cultural nature. The association Amis du Musée in perfect symbiosis with the museum has become a solid link between the people of Pontarlier and its other associations as well as a cultural motor for the town of Pontarlier.
 
    The Museum of Pontarlier was offically founded in 1977. That was when the city acquired an old bourgeois dwelling (formerly the Labrut family home). The museum opened its doors to the public in 1982. Seriously damaged by fire in 1995, the museum was restaured and renovated and was opened to the public again in May 1998. The Labrut home presents the history of Pontarlier through collections including the important development of the absinthe industry, a collection of porcelaine pottery (its history,techniques, and production) regional art and an evocation of Xavier Marmier, a writer,adventurer and academician from

Pontarlier as well as a room consacrated to special exhibits. The museum with its permanent collections is not however static and will evolve and be modified in the months to come.
      Since September 1999 extension work has been under way to build an exhibition hall for local painters as well as a basement room for the archeological exhibit.