The Museum of Local Lore in Kirov is one of the oldest regional museums in the country. Located in the capital of the Kirov region.
Museum History
The Museum of Local Lore in Kirov dates back to 1837. It was then that the first large-scale exhibition of natural and artificial works was opened in Vyatka (that was the name of this city), which was prepared by the famous publicist Alexander Herzen. She was timed to the visit of the future Emperor Alexander II.
The heir to the throne appreciated the work done and even acquired several items, including a wooden pocket watch, made by the local craftsman Bronnikov. This exhibition was the actual impetus for the opening of the museum of local lore in Kirov.
In 1863, thoughts on the creation of the museum were framed in the form of a note, which was composed by the manager of the local public library Alabin. It was published in the Vyatka Provincial Gazette.
Letters began to be sent to regions of Russia with a request to assist in creating the museum's exposition. In response, many unique items were received, which became the basis of the future rich collection. Helped and money. They bought furniture and even a unique microscope for an exposition dedicated to the natural sciences.
Museum opening
In fact, the museum of local lore in Kirov opened in 1866. At first, he worked at the public library, located in several of its halls. He worked for visitors only three days a week for three hours. On Sundays, a free visit was open. These days the number of visitors reached three hundred people.
The Regional Museum of Local Lore in Kirov played an important role in the formation of the educated class. For example, among his first regular visitors was a young future artist Viktor Vasnetsov. Immediately after the opening of the museum, he bought a subscription for a year.
In 1874, the museum was transferred to the Zemstvo school. Sasha Grinevsky, who became the great Russian novelist and novelist, known under the pseudonym Alexander Green, was engaged here.
Museum in the 20th century
In the 20th century, the museum of local lore (Kirov) began to develop after the revolution. In 1918, a scientific library was created here, as well as a circle of young naturalists.
In 1920, one of the country's first specialized courses opened at which museum workers were trained for the whole country. In the 1930s, active expeditionary and scientific work was carried out, many exhibitions were held, and the museum fund was actively replenished. In the mid-30s, it merged with the Museum of the Revolution, which significantly replenished its collection.
During the war years the museum was mothballed, a steam locomotive plant was located, and later a site for the formation of new military units.
Museum funds
Currently, the funds of the Kirov Local History Museum in Kirov contain more than a quarter of a million exhibits.
This is a rich archaeological collection, which is based on excavations conducted in the Kirov region. The oldest of them date back to the seventh millennium BC. On them you can trace the entire history of this region.
Here is one of the largest numismatic collections located in museums. It contains about 45 thousand genuine coins. Its basis is made up of samples that were in circulation in Ancient Greece, Ancient Russia. The collection of banknotes of modern Russia is presented in detail.
The Kirov Museum is proud of its metal collection. Here are samovars, and bells of local masters, and cast-iron products of wizards of the Kholunitsky factories, household utensils, lighting tools and much more.
Weapon collection
Of great interest to visitors is always a collection of weapons. There are a large number of items that belong to the XIV-XV centuries. For example, especially valuable exhibits are squeaks and broadswords.
The cold steel and firearms of the Great Patriotic War are presented in detail. One of the most valuable exhibits is a sniper rifle, which belonged personally to the hero of Russia Nikolai Galushkin, a native of these places.
The history of national costumes can be traced to the textile collection exhibition. On the territory of the Kirov region originally a large number of peoples lived. Therefore, here you can find samples of outfits of the Russian, Mari, Tatar, Udmurt and Komi peoples. There is ornamental sewing, lace and embroidery.
The museum has an extensive collection of paintings. Starting from the icons of the XVII century, ending with the Soviet avant-garde masters of the beginning of the 20th century.
The pride of the museum is the work of Vyatka icon painters, among which there is an icon called "Rev. Tryphon of Vyatka before the Mother of God." There are also sketches of Vasnetsov, Mezentsev, Charushin, Isupov and Vershigorova.
The works of military artists of the revolutionary period are interesting. For example, "The establishment of Soviet power in Vyatka."
In 1969, the skeleton of a short-bison bison appeared in the museum. This is one of the best-preserved skeletons of this extinct animal, presented in Russia for review in the public domain. Since the 1920s, the museum has gathered an entomological collection.