Murmansk regional museum of local lore

Web-site: www.murman.ru/culture/museum

One of the expositions of the museum

History of the museum activity on the Kola Peninsula started in 1926. At this time here was founded the oldest Murmansk regional museum of local lore. Director of the Murmansk biological station professor G.A. kluge with his colleagues prepared first specimen of maritime animal, professor Polkanov prepared collection of minerals, scientist Eikhfeld - collection of plants.

At present exposition of the museum tells about mineral of the land, northern taiga and tundra; seas, washing the Kola Peninsula; history of the land from the ancient times up to our days. There are three area branches of the Murmansk regional museum of local lore: museum of history of Polar Competitions in Murmansk, museum of history, culture and life of Kola Saami in Lovozero and museum of history, culture and life of Tersk Pomors in Umba.

There are more 18 thousand books and magazines on local lore in the library collection and about 150 museum items in the museum funds of the museum.

The following collections are of great interest:

• Northern icon of the XVII-XIX centuries;
• Hand written and black letter books, including the earliest one (1548) rare manuscript - Life of foundations of the Solovets Monastery Zosim and Savvaty;
• Northern spinning-wheel of the XIX - ÕÕ centuries, including carved and painted ones;
• Russian samovars of the XVIII- ÕÕ centuries;
• Numismatic collection

Being the regional scientific and methodical centre, the museum of local lore provides with methodical assistance municipal museums. Scientific and practical conferences have been taking place here since 1988. In 1999 these conferences became international ones.