The Museum of Local Lore in Simferopol is the only one on the peninsula that gives a complete picture of the nature and history of Crimea. It has a large collection of cultural, natural, historical exhibits that cover almost all eras, as well as the main events that took place in this area. The museum, its exhibits, history and excursions will be discussed later in the article.
Museum History
The Museum of Local Lore in Simferopol is rightfully considered the most interesting in the Crimea. Its history dates back to 1887, when the Tauride Scientific Archival Commission and its collection of antiquities, together with the natural history museum of Tauris, decided to unite. The fact is that the Tauride Commission was engaged not only in the storage of historical values, but also in their careful study. Just after its archives became crowded, and a proposal was received to merge the two museums.
However, the plan was realized only in 1921. Initially, the Museum of Local Lore of Simferopol was located in two buildings: on the street. Pushkinskaya, 18 (where previously a shelter for girls) and on the street. Dolgorukova, 35 (in the former building of the Officers' Assembly).
Wartime museum
In 1927, the main museum exhibits began to be concentrated in one building, located on Pushkinskaya. The only exception was the art department, which remained in its former place and remained there until 1993.
During the Great Patriotic War, the Museum of Local Lore of Simferopol suffered significant damage. In the most difficult conditions of the evacuation of the population and exhibits, as well as further occupation, some collections were irretrievably lost. However, many were either evacuated or hidden in hiding places, which allowed preserving the most valuable exhibits to date.
After the war, in 1945, the museum gets a new name - Crimean Local Lore, and in 1993 also the prefix “republican”.
Museum expositions
Tours in Simferopol must begin with the Museum of Tauris in order to better understand the history and features of the Crimea. In its halls exhibits are presented, the number of which exceeds 150 thousand, relating to different eras of the existence of the inhabitants of the peninsula. It has several rooms in which are exhibited:
- paintings on local history and historical subjects (Blue Hall);
- exhibition tours (Pink Hall).
Lapidarium, located in the courtyard, will acquaint visitors with antique sculptures, steles, objects of ancient writing, executed on stone slabs, as well as with the remains of ancient buildings. Exhibits belong to the periods of the Bronze, Iron Age and the Middle Ages.
In the Golden pantry exhibited jewelry, weapons and household items, coins from precious and semiprecious metals. All exhibits date back to the times of the ancient Greeks and Scythians.
The Tavrika library, which has mainly a scientific focus, stores priceless tomes, atlases, maps and photo reproductions within its walls.
The entire collection was collected over four hundred years, and it is the most complete and richest on the peninsula. Some exhibits are rightfully considered not only historical values, but also real works of art.
Other exhibits
On the territory of the Museum of Local Lore in Simferopol there are three large rooms, the expositions of which are devoted to the history, geology and biology of the peninsula. There are special locations dedicated to the Crimean nature (flora and fauna), the peninsula in antiquity (exhibits of the Stone Age), antiquity and later periods (Greek, Ottoman, Crimean Khanate).
Noteworthy are the expositions devoted to the Russian-Turkish wars. In the halls you can see various weapons, soldier uniforms, documents and reconstructions. The WWII period and the postwar years are also widely represented. Within the walls of this museum, visitors seem to meet with the rich history of not only Simferopol, but the entire peninsula.
Museum of Local Lore in Simferopol: reviews
In the reviews, tourists who visited this museum write about the uniqueness of the institution. It is surprising that here you can learn everything about this beautiful land: from ancient times to the present. The expositions themselves are very interestingly created, and professional guides surprise with their deep knowledge of history.
Visitors talk about the excellent organization of excursions to Sevastopol and other cities of the peninsula, which the Museum of Local Lore offers in its list of services.
Many vacationers emphasize a large number of attractions of the city, each of which is not like everyone else. Address of the central museum of Tauris: Republic of Crimea, Simferopol, st. Gogol, 18.
Once in these amazing places, you should definitely visit such a unique museum that will devote you to the centuries-old history of Crimea. To do this, you can order an excursion from Yalta, Evpatoria, Sevastopol. The impressions received here will remain with you for life.