The city of Tomsk with its rich history and cultural identity is spread on the banks of the Tom River. It is rightfully a significant cultural center of Siberia. Here, in addition to scientific institutions that have been contributing to the science of not only Russia but also the world for more than 100 years, there are a large number of museums.
Museums of Tomsk and Tomsk Region
In the city of Tomsk and its regions there are more than a hundred large municipal and departmental museums:
- Natural Sciences (Planetarium, "Mindset", Oil, Zoological).
- Artistic (Tomsk regional, wooden architecture, art gallery, "Peaceful toy" in the village of Kislovka).
- Architectural (museum of political exile in Narymsk).
- Historical (Museum of the History of Tomsk, “The Investigative Prison of the NKVD”, the regional local lore named after MB Shatilov, the Ethnographic Center of the Russian population of Siberia).
- Literary (The first museum of Slavic mythology).
- Musical (Theater Museum named after TP Lebedeva).
- Museums of science and technology (history of communications, Tomsk shipping company).
Tomsk is also famous for its small museums located in rooms and classrooms of universities and schools, colleges and technical schools.
Museum History
The amazing city of Tomsk has a rich history. It was founded by imperial order of Boris Godunov in the heart of Siberia in 1604 and became an eyewitness to many extraordinary events. All the facts of vital and significant moments of the city over the past years are kept by the Museum of the History of Tomsk under the vigilant control of the wondrous beast Dinoteriya (museum symbol and logo).
The museum is located on the Resurrection Hill. This is the central place of honor of the city. Museum exhibits are located in a very conspicuous building designed by engineer V.K. Fadeev. In 1856, it belonged to the Resurrection Private Police Board, which was also responsible for the fire safety of the city. This is evidenced by the rooftop tower that adorns the Tomsk History Museum and sets it apart from the city’s modern architectural ensemble.
Where does urban history live?
The opening of the museum took place at the first temporary exhibition "Portrait of Old Tomsk" in 2003. And a year after the formation of the collection, permanent exhibits began to be created, the first of which was the “First Century of Tomsk”, dedicated to the centenary of the city.
Today's Tomsk History Museum has acquired a rich collection of exhibits, which are located in five rooms. Interesting topics are revealed here:
- The development of Siberia. Presented are maps, a model of the ship, costumes of Siberian discoverers.
- Stories of medieval Tomsk with models of seventeenth-century city fortresses and old books.
- The way of life and occupation of Tomsk residents in the 17th century. Archaeological finds discovered during excavations on the Voskresenskaya Hill (ceramic products, bone arrows, metal products, “accessories” from the gate, buttons from the bone, glass beads, unique tiles and others) are proposed for consideration.
The museum constantly operates several exhibitions:
- "Russian hut" in the era of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The traditional layout of the huts with objects characteristic of the Russian home of the specified period is presented.
- “Plan-panorama of Tomsk in the first quarter of the 20th century”, verified by the author, indigenous Tomich Yu.P. Nagornov, and reproduced with documentary accuracy from archival sources in the image of old Tomsk.
- The “Merchant Living Room” with a mirror in a carved frame, a mechanical piano, and watches for hours offers to plunge into the atmosphere of life of the city merchants in pre-revolutionary times. There is also a real shop of a Tomsk merchant with antique exhibits.
Museum halls often house temporary exhibitions related to the Siberian city (historical, artistic and ethnographic). Here you can take pictures in historical costumes worn by the inhabitants of Siberia in the 17th century, consider the beauty of Tomsk with a fire tower, celebrate a children's birthday with an informative historical quest for finding treasures in museum halls.
