Anokhin Gorno-Altaisk Museum: photo, opening hours

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

In 2018, the Anokhin National Museum of Gorno-Altaisk will celebrate its centenary. More than one generation of museum workers painstakingly worked on replenishing the collections, preparing and demonstrating exhibitions and interesting, informative expositions. The museum not only carefully treats rarities and artifacts found in different periods of time, but also promotes the historical and cultural heritage of the Altai Mountains.

From the history of the museum

The actual opening date of the museum is considered to be 1920, but the history of the museum began with the acquisition in 1918 of a large collection of minerals and artifacts collected by researchers Altai Gulyaevs. Now the museum has in its vaults a large amount of materials related to the excavations of barrows and the Ukok plateau, the works of the artist Choros-Gurkin, handwritten and printed books dating from the 17th - 20th centuries are exhibited. The museum has paleontological collections. Museum of Gorno-Altaiskhas unique expositions and is considered one of the most modern in Russia.

The first head of the museum was the ethnographer A. V. Anokhin. In 1990, the museum was named after him, and in 2002 the former regional museum of Gorno-Altaisk became known as the national museum. Two years later, the proposed plan for the reconstruction of the museum, which took place from 2008 to 2012, was considered. Additional premises were needed for the storage facility, which was done during the restoration. After the restoration, the museum acquired a new look.

Expositions and departments of the museum

The museum has collected materials and arranged expositions that tell about the nature of the Land and its ancient history. The material on ethnography and the complex of the Ukok plateau is widely presented. Presented material on modern history and fine arts.

In total, the museum has about 66 thousand items of storage, about 15 thousand exhibits of archaeological finds, has materials of a human paleontological site discovered on the territory of modern Gorno-Altaisk. Departments of the museum are engaged in the preparation of materials for exhibitions and expositions, scientific and research work, ethnography and cultural and educational work. The museum has a scientific library and a fund department.

Nature and fauna of Altai

Nature is represented by several halls that tell about the unique landscape of the Altai Mountains, lakes (7000 lakes), waterfalls, rivers, karst caves (430 caves). Today, Altai Mountains is one of the regions that has preserved nature inoriginal form. From the exposition of the museum you can learn about the geological history of the Altai Mountains, about minerals and rocks, about the ancient flora and fauna of the region.

Water resources are presented in the Gorno-Altaisk Museum on photos and maps. The hydrographic network includes more than 20 thousand watercourses and lakes. Visitors to the museum can get acquainted with the peculiarities of the climate and terrain. Of particular interest to visitors is always an artificial waterfall and stuffed fish that live in the reservoirs of the Altai Mountains: taimen, teletsky whitefish, grayling, shuka.

In the department of nature, visitors can get acquainted with the inhabitants of the fauna of the republic. Among the exhibits of the museum in stuffed animals and in the photo are varieties of mammals (more than 70 species), birds (more than 300 species) and 10 species of amphibians and reptiles.

Altai ethnography

The Anokhin Museum in Gorno-Altaisk has collected in its halls a unique collection of cult objects of the peoples living in Altai, such as shaman tambourines and household items. Indigenous peoples: Telengits, Tubalars, Chelkans, Kumandins, have an original culture. Here, visitors will learn about the traditional tamga-signs of the seoks, which tell about the institution of the clan. Most of the exposition presents the traditional clothes of the Altaians, Kumandins, and Teleuts. There are materials telling about the religion of the Altaians "ak yang" (white faith). A heroic epic based on which the layer of Altai culture was reconstructed was also presented.

Art exhibition is prouda large collection of paintings that were donated by the Altai artist Choros-Gurkin to the museum. "Khan-Altai" and "Lake of Mountain Spirits" are its most famous cratins. In total, there are more than 3,000 art paintings in the museum's vaults.

Ukok plateau complex

A special place in the museum is given to the exposition of the Ukok plateau complex. During archaeological excavations, the richest layer of the Altai culture was uncovered. The well-preserved body of a young woman was found in the permafrost of the Ak-Alakha burial mound. She was given the name Ukok "Princess". She lay on her side, her legs crossed, as in a dream, and her arms crossed over her stomach. There were also six horses in harness in the burial ground. The "princess" had a rich tattoo on her body.

The mummy was placed in a sarcophagus located in a special room of the Gorno-Altaisk Museum. There is no access to the mummy. It is not exhibited to the public, but in the hall there is an exhibit of the reconstruction of the burial complex with all the ritual accessories. The acoustic system installed in the exhibition hall of the mausoleum reproduces the sounds of nature: the wind, the cries of animals, the chirping of birds.

Modern history

Gorny Altai has changed a lot in the 20th century. The museum displays in the expositions the main milestones of this period from the 1917 revolution to the present. The inhabitants of Gorny Altai were participants in all the events taking place at that time. Various periods are documented on museum stands: an attempt to create a democratic governing body in the person of the Altai MiningDuma, the allocation of Gorny Altai to the county, the formation of the Oirot Autonomous Region and, finally, the formation of the Gorno-Altai Autonomous Region.

Now the Republic of Altai is developing, industries are being modernized, and the constant updating of the exposition, which tells about changes in the social life of the Territory, makes it possible for everyone to get acquainted with new products.

The opening hours of the museum in Gorno-Altaisk depend on the season. in summer, its doors are open from Wednesday to Saturday from 10 am to 7 pm, on Sunday the museum is open until 6 pm. The rest of the year the museum closes an hour earlier. The museum has two days off: Monday and Tuesday. Finding a museum in Gorno-Altaisk is very easy. It is a block and a half from the bus station.