Penza, museum of local lore: address, mode of work, photos and reviews

The city of Penza was founded as a fortress on the outskirts of the Russian kingdom in 1663. Over the past 354 years, there have been many interesting events, and many natives of these places left a notable mark in the history of our country.

Do you want to know more about what Penza is famous for? The Museum of Local Lore is a place where you will be told a lot of interesting things.

Prehistory

The first museum on the territory of the modern Penza region arose in the XVIII century. In 1789, one of the first entrepreneurs of the province, landowner AI Bakhmetev, who owned a well-known crystal plant, founded a museum with him. This institution had a small exposition, the basis of which was the best works of the masters of the enterprise. It was the first in the Russian province museum of artistic and industrial profile.

In addition, in 1892, with the money bequeathed by the former governor of Penza and the well-known philanthropist ND Seliverstov, the third Russian provincial art gallery was founded. In it, from the very beginning, numerous valuable works of painting and arts and crafts exhibited by the city were exhibited.

By the beginning of the last century, small museums of the provincial academic archival commission, as well as statistical, church and historical-archaeological committees also operated in Penza.

Base

Penza, whose local history museum is considered one of the main attractions, developed rapidly in the first decade of the last century. In 1905 a society of lovers of natural science began to operate there. At his meeting, a decision was taken to organize a natural history museum. Six years of work on the creation of the collection. The museum itself began operating in February 1911. By 1915, there were 22949 items in his collection, and in his library there were 1818 books.

After the establishment of Soviet power, the museum was nationalized and became a state. In 1924 it was officially re-registered in the local history department.

History in the first years after the foundation

As a result of the active work of the collective, the Local History Museum (Penza), whose mode of operation is presented below, in the early 1920s already had departments of ethnography, archeology and history.

In 1924 he was granted a two-storey building of the dormitory of the former diocesan school, in which it is located to this day.

Later, many cultural institutions were officially included in its structure, which even then was proud of the provincial Penza.

The Museum of Local Lore unites the picture gallery, the Ulyanov Observatory (planetarium), the Botanical Garden and the Vivarium.

Further history

An invaluable role in the formation of the collections of the Penza museum of local lore, in the organization of its exposition and scientific research work was played by N. Zaikin, N. and I. Spryginy, E. and A. Shtukenbergi, B. Gvozdev, D. Protasiev and A. Magnitsky.

During the Great Patriotic War, the institution did not cease its work for a single day. During this period, exhibits from the evacuated Orel KM and the museum of Ivan Sergeevich Turgenev were placed in his building.

After the end of the war, the staff of the Penza Museum of Local Lore engaged in a radical reconstruction of the museum exposition on the basis of new ethnographic materials, as well as the introduction of new forms of cultural and educational activities. In 1952 a special department of funds was created. At that time in the museum collection there were already almost 60,000 exhibits.

For the years of its existence, the Museum of Local Lore (Penza, the mode of operation see below) has achieved considerable success in scientific research, exhibition and exhibition, collecting and cultural and educational activities.

It has repeatedly become the venue for all-Russian meetings and seminars, as well as international scientific conferences. In addition, his staff published more than 60 monographs, as well as thousands of collections of scientific papers, articles and several dozen books.

The Natural Science Collection

Many tourists, deciding where to spend a vacation, are wondering about the interesting Penza. The Local History Museum of the city is the place where you can find the answers to this question. For example, in his natural science collection there are more than 10,000 subjects. After acquaintance with them, you will find out that fossils of the Mesozoic era have been found on the territory of the region: the ichthyosaurus vertebrae, the lower jaw of the mosasaur, the imprints on the sandstone of the pliosaur, etc. The bones of animals of the Cenozoic era - mammoth, bison, rhinoceros, giant deer, As well as zoological and ornithological collections.

Ethnographic exposition

The pride of the museum is one of the most complete collections of Russian and Mordovian folk costumes and ornaments. It includes almost 5000 items, including the top swinging maiden's clothing (zuprun), snuffles, wedding dresses and headdresses. In addition, the museum can see old utensils and folk craft items.

Other collections and exhibitions

In the Local History Museum of Penza, there are also ancient rare coins. In total, the numismatic collection includes about 10,000 items of storage. Of great interest are also the treasures of Ivan the Terrible, Peter the Great, Alexei Mikhailovich and the Juchid coins. In the museum you can see and dozens of ancient orders and medals of the Russian Empire and the USSR.

At the end of last year, children and youth had another reason to visit the Museum of Local Lore (Penza). The exhibition of robots that opened there in December evoked the enthusiasm of all who are fans of Optimus Prime and his iron comrades. Everyone who visited this unusual show left with the best impressions of what he saw. After all, they were organized a magnificent fantastic performance with modern special effects.

Local History Museum (Penza): Zoo

In February 2017 a new department was opened in the OKM. He became a contact zoo, where more than 50 species of animals and birds are represented, many of which can be picked up. Children and adults are happy to communicate with monkeys, reptiles, chameleons, scorpions, chinchillas, ferrets, a huge rabbit and the largest tortoise living in Russia.

Local History Museum (Penza): address

This institution of culture is easy to find. It is located at: Krasnaya street, 73. Before the October Revolution, this street was called the Noble and was, as they would say today, the most prestigious in Penza. Representatives of the richest and noble families of the city built their dwellings on it, so in the area, in addition to the Museum of Local Lore, there are other sights. Among them are old houses and an art gallery.

How to get there and work

In order to get to the Museum of Local Lore, you need to take bus number 8 and get to the stop "Gymnasium No. 1". Next, you should go in the direction of the building next to which the tank and guns are exhibited, which have been preserved since the First World War.

The museum is open for visits all days of the week, except Mondays and Tuesdays. Opening hours: 10:00 to 17:00. On Fridays, visitors are welcome from 10:00 to 20:00. The ticket office closes half an hour earlier.

The cost of tickets for adults is 100, and for children - 40 rubles. For students, students of colleges and technical schools, as well as pensioners - 50.

Some categories of citizens can visit the museum free of charge on the first Wednesday of each month. These include Veterans of the Second World War, invalids of Groups 1 and 2, soldiers, sergeants and foremen of the Republic of Armenia, minors and members of large families.

In the museum you can use the services of a professional guide. The cost for single visitors and groups of no more than 25 people is 300 rubles.

Now you know where the Museum of Local Lore (Penza) is located. An exhibition of robots, a contact zoo, many unique exhibits, as well as interesting events - this is only part of what he can offer to visitors and residents of the city. Therefore, when you come to Penza, be sure to visit OKM, where you can always spend a couple of hours and learn a lot about the city and its inhabitants.