History of the Museum

The Tobolsk state historical and architectural reservation museum is regarded as one of the oldest in Siberia. It was founded in 1870. The founder of the museum was Ivan Yushkov, a selfless enthusiast, and an expert in local history and ethnography. Initially the museum was not officially supported, and subordinated to the Regional Statistics committee.

In 1886, on the 300th anniversary of Tobolsk, it was decided to start up a specially designed building for the museum near the place where the Ermak Square is located now (The Arts museum at present). The museum was officially opened in 1889. At that time the exposition included five parts: natural history, ethnography, archaeology, industry, and general education. That period was characterized by prolific research and public activities of the museum. The museum participated in the largest all-Russia and international trade shows. The staff of the museum was engaged in research of ethnographic heritage and ethnic crafts of the peoples within the Tobolsk region. Since 1893 the annual report of the museum had been published that preserved until today some precious historical facts and researches of local lore. Since 1891 the museum had been proclaimed under the highest patronage of Nikolai II. Since 1925 the museum had been moved to the Archbishop’s house on the Kremlin territory.

In 1961 it was registered as the State Reservation Museum of history and architecture. The museum incorporates 33 objects of the federal status.

The museum numbers about 300 thousand exhibits at present. Among the most precious exhibits are ethnographical, archaeological, and palaeonthologic collections, hand-written and old-printed books, a photo collection, some personal belongings of the Tsar’s family, and carving.

The museum has got some subsidiaries: the Memorial study of Nikolai II, the Museum of Book, the Arts museum, the Museum of Nature, the Museum of spiritual culture of the peoples in Western Siberia, the Gaol complex, the Educational Center for children, and the Exhibition hall.

In the near future some new branches are planned to get opened. Over 250 thousand people visit the museum every year (the population of Tobolsk is 115 thousand people). The museum is regarded as a large research and educational center, and a coordinator of travel tours. Research conferences related to ethnic cultures of the Northern peoples, history, architecture, museum studies are regularly held at the museum.

Since 2002 the Museum has been organizing the annual festival ‘The Tobolsk Museum Welcomes Its Friends’, which has united a large number of creative people and researchers from all over Russia. The educational and cultural project ‘School in the Museum’, initiated by the museum in 2001, has got high evaluation all over this country. The personnel of the museum consists of high-skilled experts, including four Doctors of Sciences. Over 20 exhibitions are held here annually. Since 2003 a Trustee council has been working at the museum including well-known public figures and high-ranking officials.