History of museum

The collection

The Birth of the city

Solikamsk in XX century

Solikamsk in XX century

Salt Museum

The museum of Old Russian art

Museum of the Nature

Art museum

The Birth of the city

Historical exposition presented in the House of Commander gives to the visitors of the museum evident representation about the first pages of city’s history.

Solikamsk is one of the oldest cities of Ural Mountains region. It is considered to be founded in 1430, and founders of the city - natives of the Vologda region salt workers Kalinins who founded salt making factory near the river Usolka. Originally the city was referred to as Usolye Kamskiy, and since XVII century - Salt Kamskaya. The first people, who settled down here, were mainly the natives of Northern and Central Pomorze. One of the primary factors of discovering and development Solikamsk land was rich deposits of salt. At that time salt was the valuable goods which significant part was imported into the country from abroad. In 1579 16 salt making factories worked in city, and by the end of XVII century in Solikamsk over seven millions pods of salt was annually produced that made more than 70 percent from all salt produced in Russia.

During XVI century Solikamsk was second largest (The first one was Cherdun) trading and administrative centre of Prikamye. The beginning of construction (in 1597) of the first overland way which lasted from Solikamsk up to Verhoture and connected the European Russia with Siberia, rendered significant influence on the administrative status and economic development of city. Since 1613 the city was governed by the Commander, and since 1636 Solikamsk was the center of Perm Great, having received this status from Cherdun.

During the greater part of XVII century the central defensive constructions of Solikamsk were the wooden Kremlin in which territory there were: orders log hut, church of Archangel Michael, a powder cellar, barns and a number of other constructions. Near the Kremlin there was housing estate, consisted of houses, small shops and several wooden churches. Solikamsk Kremlin was destroyed by a fire in 1672. Soon after it in history of Solikamsk the epoch of the stone construction with its unique architectural ensemble began. By the end of XVII - to the beginning of XVIII century Solikamsk reached the highest point of administrative and economic development. In its submission there were extensive territories, from the rivers Pechera in the north up to Sulva in the south, and from the Upper Kama up to the Ural Mountains. 200 small salt factories, more than 20 smithies, over 100 trading institutions worked in Solikamsk.