Naukograd Obninsk (Kaluga Region) is located on the banks of the Protva River. The city is quite a few years old, but its formation is associated with a unique event in the history of science. It was in Obninsk that the world's first nuclear power station was developed and built. This historical fact formed the basis for the further development of the city.
At the forefront
The city of Obninsk, Kaluga Region, was formed on the basis of a small village, where the Physics and Power Engineering Institute worked since 1946. At that time it was a secret “Object B”, which was a laboratory created for research in the field of nuclear physics. The employees of the scientific organization were outstanding scientists. On a contractual basis, nuclear physicists from the University of Leipzig, Kaiser-Wilhelm laboratories, and specialists from Soviet higher education institutions were invited.
Thanks to the work of these specialists, the first nuclear power plant began to operate in Obninsk (Kaluga) in 1954. At that time, it was the only one in the world, scientists made a breakthrough and said a new word in energy. In the same year, the closed village was transferred to the status of a city and appeared on the maps of the USSR. From the administrative center of the region, the city of Kaluga, Obninsk is only an hour away by car, the distance between these cities is 81 km.
City of Nuclear Engineers
In 1960, the secret nuclear laboratory became known as the Institute of Physics and Energy. The IPPE is currently the largest world center for studying the problems of the use of nuclear energy. The scientists of the institute took part in the scientific and technical development of the first domestic nuclear submarine. Today, they deal with the problems of radiology in the field of medicine, agriculture, meteorology and other fields.
Science city
Local institutes are developing new materials for aviation and the defense industry as a whole, and they are monitoring processes in the bowels of the Earth. In a small city with a population of about 114 thousand people, a record number of research institutes is concentrated. Today there are 11 research institutes of various scientific fields.
In 2000, Obninsk became the first science city in the history of Russia. The new status has opened up opportunities for the creation of high-tech enterprises with unique technologies, often ahead of the world level. The city is actively developing, infrastructure is improving to provide high-tech business. A municipal industrial zone has appeared, the Obninsk technopark has been launched, a business incubator is functioning, and much more. The master plan for the development of the city includes the expansion of the district.
City attractions include:
- Manor Belkino.
- Cottage of the artist Konchalovsky in the Bugras.
- Manor of Turliki (cottage Morozova M.K.).
- Aerosol casing.
- NPP.
- Meteomast.
Museum of Obninsk History
Obninsk a little more than 60 years, this is a very small segment for history, but much has been done during this time. The main asset of the city is the scientific potential and achievements of its inhabitants. In the vicinity of the science city there are several historical sites and estates. In 1964, a museum of the history of the city of Obninsk was founded in order to preserve the cultural heritage, keep the city’s chronicle, and also to form a cultural environment. It was created on a voluntary basis; for the general public, its doors opened on May 9, 1965.
In 1992, the main museum of Obninsk was transferred to a purpose-built building. The new expanded exposition includes art canvases, materials of local lore and an exhibition hall. The funds store 58 thousand items. About 1300 m 2 has been allocated for the permanent exhibition, more than 70 m 2 has been allocated for the storage facilities, temporary exhibitions are located on 210 m 2.
The Museum of the History of the City is also a regional museum of Obninsk. The most valuable exhibits of the collections and expositions are the personal belongings of prominent scientific nuclear physicists - A. I. Leipunsky, N. V. Luchnik, E. K. Fedorov and others. The exposition also presents the work of pupils of the school-colony "Peppy Life." The children's colony, and later the school named after S.T. Shatsky, was located in Obninsk from 1911 to 1941.
Permanent exhibition
Museums in Obninsk have unique exhibits, most of them are connected with the city and science. But the science city did not appear in the open field, peasants always lived in the local regions, the mansions of the nobility rose. The permanent exhibition of the city’s history museum is opened by stands dedicated to the history of the surrounding villages and the life of the peasant family. The exhibition presents household items, tools, items of clothing, as well as archaeological finds found in expeditions to the outskirts of Obninsk.
One of the halls tells the story of the Belkino estate, located on the northwestern outskirts of the city limits. Its last owners were three generations of landowners Obninsky. In addition to exhibition, exhibition work, the museum is engaged in publishing.
Tours
The Museum of the History of Obninsk offers a collection of excursions covering different areas of history, local history, literature, painting, etc.
The main excursion programs:
- Sightseeing tours - “Meet the museum!”, A general sightseeing tour of the halls.
- Thematic ones - “Archaeological Monuments”, “Life of Peasants”, “Belkino Manor”, “Vigorous Life Colony School”, “Children of War”, “Obninsk - City of Science”, etc.
- Theatrical excursions - “On a visit to Aunt Arina”, “Masquerade Ball”.
- Interactive excursions - “Obninsk. World of childhood ", " Country of Pioneer. "
- Walking and sightseeing tours - "Belkino Manor", "Old Town", a sightseeing tour of Obninsk, Maloyaroslavets, Borovsk.
- The game in the museum is “Museum riddles”, “Seven secrets of life”, the quest “Where science lives”, as well as quizzes, master classes for students of all ages.
Excursion work is supported by cycles of lectures and discussions on the history of the native land, stories about architectural monuments in the vicinity of Obninsk. The museum also provides classes in addition to the school course in history, literature, social studies, the fine arts, etc. Museum staff created cycles of cognitive classes on Russian traditions, culture, and military glory. Oral stories are supplemented by slides and material historical objects of that era, which is discussed in the lesson.
The address of the Museum of the History of Obninsk is Lenin Avenue, Building 128.
Reviews of the Museum of History
Visitors respond to the Obninsk Museum with great warmth. The expositions tell the history of the city, and also give an idea of what happened on these lands before the advent of the science city. As a big plus, it was noted that the administration and employees are actively involved in educational programs for schoolchildren and are always ready to give a lecture on any topic, backing it up with a visual series - chronicles, documents, historical objects, slides.
Visitors said that the halls collected exhibits of material culture, painting, sculpture. Constantly changing exhibitions significantly broaden the horizons of children and adults. A large number of various master classes are positively perceived, where children try their hand at various crafts, simultaneously learning the history of their occurrence. Exhibitions brought from other museums do not go unnoticed, Obninsk residents get acquainted with part of the collections of the Tretyakov Gallery, the Russian Museum, etc.
The annual action - “The Night of Museums” of Obninsk is also very popular. The city museum of the history of the city offers visitors unique exhibits, usually stored in storage. Concludes the performance of local music groups. During the event, films are shown, lectures are held.
There are no negative reviews about the museum and its exhibits, visitors leave only wishes - to develop and not interrupt the cultural mission.
Museum of the IPPE
The Obninsk museums have one undoubted advantage - they are created by our contemporaries. One of the city’s iconic complexes is the Museum of the Physics and Energy Institute, which talks about the creation of the very first nuclear power plant; there were no analogues to this energy facility in the world. The opening of the museum complex took place in 2006, the exposition is constantly updated and therefore is of interest to tourists.
The launch of the Obninsk NPP was the most significant achievement not only of the institute, but of the whole country. At the stands of the Museum of Atomic Energy of the IPPE, exhibits are presented that show that more than 20 scientific discoveries were made during the work on the reactor and processes in it. The excursion is conducted by the institute’s employees, they once took part in the work on the station, and therefore the live story is especially interesting with details, memories and detailed answers to questions.
Features of the Atom Museum
Every year, about 4 thousand people visit the first nuclear power plant for free. About half of the flow is made up of schoolchildren, the remaining 50% of visitors are students, specialists and tourists who are simply interested. The historical site of the IPPE was visited with pleasure by the Prince of Kent and was pleased with the opportunity to try himself as an operator of a nuclear power plant.
Employees of the Museum of the SSC RF IPPE see their mission in enlightenment and open the doors of the NPP to visitors. Tourists, once at the station, have the opportunity to visit the reactor hall, director’s office, and control panel. A mock-up of a satellite with a nuclear reactor is presented in the operating room.
Photographing is prohibited in the halls of nuclear power plants and on the territory of the IPPE. The Institute is still involved in atomic energy development and remains the world leader in the industry. In order to feel like an employee of a nuclear power plant, touch the control panel and see firsthand what the station looks like from the inside, a preliminary appointment for the tour is required.
