Tomsk Regional Museum of Local Lore. Museum of Local Lore, Tomsk, Russia

Photo: Tomsk Regional Museum of Local Lore

The idea of ​​creating a public museum in Tomsk came from the city's intelligentsia. At her insistence, the city authorities in 1911 decided to open the Regional Siberian Science and Art Museum named after. Alexander II. The implementation of the plan was interrupted by military and revolutionary events (1914-1919). On February 14, 1920, after inspecting the Bishop’s House (the former estate of gold miner I.D. Astashev), the commission decided to open the “Museum of Antiquity and Revolution” there.

The ways of creating museum funds were varied. Intelligent, highly educated artists, architects, and university teachers piece by piece collected objects that had artistic and historical value scattered by the war and revolution.

The first exhibition of the museum opened on March 18, 1922. Only in October 1922 did the museum receive the name “Tomsk Regional Museum” corresponding to the direction of its work (subsequent names of the museum: 1940-1946 - Tomsk City Local History Museum; from 1946 - Tomsk Regional Local History Museum museum).

The formation of museum collections occurs through a comprehensive ethnolinguistic and archaeological study of the indigenous population of Western Siberia through the interaction of museum staff and scientists from TSU and TSPU. The collections of the museum correspond to its local history profile. The museum has its own ongoing scientific publication “Proceedings..”, and is the initiator and author of publishing a series of local history collections on the history and nature of the administrative regions of the Tomsk region.

Since 1984, as the parent organization, it became part of the museum association "Tomsk State United Historical and Architectural Museum". In 1999, the association included: Tomsk Regional Museum of Local Lore, Kolpashevo Museum of Local Lore, Asinovsky Museum of Local Lore, Narym Museum of Political Exiles, Podgornensky Museum of Local Lore.

Since 1998, the museum has again been called the Tomsk Regional Local Lore Museum. Classes are held in the halls for schoolchildren and students; excursions, lectures, meetings with war and labor veterans. The museum invites exhibitions from different cities. Work is underway on a scientific concept for a permanent exhibition. In 2005, the restoration of the buildings of I.D.’s estate was completed. Astashev. In 2009, the placement of a stationary exhibition began - the hall "The Age of Stone. Paleolithic on the territory of the Tomsk-Narym Ob region" opened.

The museum includes both departments in the city (Memorial Museum "Investigation Prison of the NKVD" and the Tomsk Planetarium) and branches in the Tomsk Region. The museum is a methodological center for all museums in the region.

Winner of the competition "Changing Museum in a Changing World" in 2013 - the project "Siberians free and involuntary" and 2015 - the project "Chain's uprising (documentary theater experience in the museum"

It cannot be said about the regional museum of local lore in Tomsk that the silence of the museum halls reigns here. The main visitors of the museum are not familiar with silence, because they are students and schoolchildren. The local history museum is located in the halls of an old mansion; it has become a temple of the muses. Often a large number of guests arrive here. In this museum, you can feel a touch of the history of the Tomsk region, which is marked by victories, glory, pride and troubles. The administration of the museum offers to look at the museum showcases of images of past years, which are full of museum enfilades. This museum is an amazing institution, from where the current descendants receive greetings from their glorious ancestors. Compare exposures with .

For the entire history of its existence, the Tomsk Museum of Local Lore faced the tough question of closing or further functionality. The locals themselves say that the museum is still open today because Tomsk needs it. Therefore, you can carefully study the history of this famous institution.

Creation of a museum

The intelligentsia of the city came up with the idea of ​​creating such a museum. Only now their efforts to establish such an institution were unsuccessful. Although there was considerable potential in Tomsk to create a museum of such a scale and profile. After all, a large number of interested and educated people lived here, as well as accumulated cultural wealth, which were in private collections. In 1920, Tomsk was a front-line city in a tragic war. It was during this rainy time that the idea of ​​creating a public museum in the city appeared. This idea was to be put into practice without delay. After all, there was an urgent need to save and store at least some of the old art objects, since they died during the war period.

The section on museum issues was formed in 1919 in Tomsk, this committee included professors Smolin, Dennike, Bogaevsky and architect Shilovsky. Gradually it was transformed into a subdepartment, and departments were added to it each time. For example, an architectural section was added. In 1921, this subdepartment became a provincial committee dealing with museum issues and the protection of ancient monuments and art. It was run by the artist Tikhomirov. A number of people contributed to the formation of the first museum collections and collections, among which there is requisitioned property that was saved from the destruction of cultural values. Today, the preserved exhibits have become a real asset to Tomsk.

The first exhibition was launched in the former Astashev mansion in 1922. This happened on March 18, today this day is celebrated as the museum’s birthday. In 1920, the commission inspected the Bishop's House, which was the same estate, and as a result they decided to open the Museum of Revolution and Antiquity here. Museum funds were collected in a variety of ways. Piece by piece they collected objects of historical and artistic value that had been scattered by the revolution; this activity was carried out by university teachers, architects, highly educated artists and simply the urban intelligentsia.

In 1922, the first museum exhibition was opened. Note that in the same year, the museum began to develop in the appropriate direction, receiving the name Tomsk Regional Museum. Then in 1940-1946 it was called the Tomsk City Museum of Local Lore. And it received its modern name in 1946. The first director of the museum was Mikhail Shatilov, who significantly developed the scientific organization of work. Around this era, the Society for the Study of Tomsk, the Council of the Tomsk Museum and specialists in the development of artistic creativity worked alongside him.

The purpose of the Local History Museum

The main tasks of the museum were the study of the Tomsk region, as well as the presentation of the found materials to a wide range of the population. As today, then the museum collection was formed thanks to a comprehensive archaeological and ethnolinguistic study of the population of Western Siberia, while cooperation was carried out with a group of scientists and museum staff. It should be noted that the museum collection is fully consistent with its local history profile. To date, the museum continues to publish a scientific publication called Proceedings. This museum is the author and initiator of the publication of a number of local history collections on the nature and history of the Tomsk region.

Since 1984, as the parent organization, the Museum of Local Lore has become part of the museum association of the State Tomsk Historical and Architectural Museum. By 1999, the museum association included the Kolpashevsk Museum of Local Lore, the Tomsk Regional Museum of Local Lore, the Asinovskiy Museum of Local Lore, the Podgorny Museum of Local Lore and the Museum of Political Exiles of Narym. In the end, it was this year that the regional administration decided that this museum association would now be called the Museum of Local Lore.

The museum exhibits both its own and imported exhibitions, as well as various interactive programs designed for audiences of different ages. In this case, museum collections and exhibition materials are used. It is noteworthy that the museum has become a methodological center for all regional museums that carry out museum work. The Board of Trustees began its activities at the museum in 1998, Maltsev B.A. became its leader. - Chairman of the State Duma.

Chronological history of the Museum of Local Lore

The museum acquired state status back in 1923-24, and around that time it began to be funded as an independent organization. The following year, the museum became the founder of the Organization for the Study of the Tomsk Region. In the same period, art lovers and artists united in the Society of Artistic Creation. Today, the museum has ethnographic and linguistic circles, as well as a circle of fans of antiquity. The foundations of the ethnographic collection were laid in the twenties and thirties. Shor materials appeared in the Museum of Local Lore thanks to an expedition to the territory of Gornaya Shoriya in 1923-24.

In 1927-28 the museum collections began to receive objects of Russian ethnography, which were collected by members of expedition groups. Later, the museum fund was enriched with metal-plastic items that date back to the Early Iron Age. Thanks to such an exposition, one can get acquainted with the Kulai culture, which is the brightest example of West Siberian archeology. In 1928, a fruit plant nursery was founded at the museum, and active work is underway to grow mulberry trees, horticultural crops, and medicinal plants. In the natural science department in 1929, specialists began to collect and study soil samples, which made it possible to compile maps of Siberian soil zones.

To this day, collections of fine art from the funds of the State Museum, the Rumyantsev Museum and the Tretyakov Gallery are brought to the Tomsk Museum of Local Lore. Gradually, museum exhibitions are becoming richer. For example, already in seventeen halls there is a stationary exposition. In addition, it is worth noting that the museum is distinguished by its local history structure, in other words, there are industrial, oriental, artistic, historical-revolutionary, natural science and other departments.

In the year of the beginning of the Second World War, the museum was closed. And various institutions were located here, for example, a pedagogical institute, a weapons-technical school, and the Belotserkovsky military infantry school. A significant part of the museum property, paintings and furniture were transferred to theaters, hospitals and other organizations. But this did not stop the museum from continuing its activities.

Local history museum today

Thanks to the interesting exhibition "Once Upon a Time" visitors have the opportunity to get acquainted with the basis of the folk culture of Rus'. It is interesting that the first hall is made of a traditional Russian hut, where you can see the iconostasis and the red corner, as well as a built-in stove corner. A traditional cradle is located next to the stove. Here, visitors are allowed to sit on the table or climb on the floor and stove. In general, here each element introduces the traditions of the Russian people. If you agree in advance, you can organize a photo session, during which you are allowed to dress in traditional Russian attire.

Another interesting exhibition is the Tomsk-Narym Calvary, which allows you to get acquainted with the tragic fate of people during the Soviet period - many parishioners and representatives of the hierarchy of the Russian Orthodox Church were then persecuted. Of course, various thematic exhibitions help to learn more about the history and development of the Tomsk region. Comprehensive information can be found on the official website of the Tomsk Local Lore Museum.

March 18, 1922 in the former mansion of the gold miner I.D. Astashev, the first exposition was launched. This day is considered the birthday of the museum. On February 14, 1920, the commission decided to open the “Museum of Antiquity and Revolution” in it, in October 1922 the museum received the name “Tomsk Regional Museum” corresponding to the direction of its work. Subsequent names of the museum: 1940-1946 Tomsk city local history; since 1946, the Tomsk Regional Museum of Local Lore. A significant role in the scientific organization of the museum's work belongs to one of the first directors (September 1922 - April 1933) Mikhail Bonifatievich Shatilov (1882 - 1937). During this period, the Council of the Tomsk Regional Museum (1924 - 1933), the Society for the Study of the Tomsk Territory (1925 - 1928), the Society for the Study of Artistic Creativity of the Tomsk Territory (1925 - 1926) worked under it. there is a study of the Tomsk Territory and enlightenment of the general public. The formation of museum collections takes place through a comprehensive ethnolinguistic and archaeological study of the indigenous population of Western Siberia with the interaction of museum staff and scientists from TSU and TSPU. The collections of the museum correspond to its local history profile. The museum has its own ongoing scientific publication "Proceedings ..", is the initiator and author of the publication of a series of local history collections on the history and nature of the administrative districts of the Tomsk region. Since 1984, as the parent organization, it has become part of the museum association “Tomsk State United Historical and Architectural Museum”. In 1999, as part of the association: the Tomsk Regional Museum of Local Lore, the Kolpashevsky Museum of Local Lore, the Asinov Museum of Local Lore, the Narym Museum of Political Exiles, the Podgorny Museum of Local Lore. Since 1999, by decision of the regional administration, this museum association has been named after the name of the head museum. The museum exhibits its own and imported exhibitions, conducts interactive programs for different age audiences based on materials from exhibitions and collections. The museum is the methodological center of museum work for all museums in the region. In 1998, the museum began its work. On September 1, 1922, M.B. was appointed to the position of director. Shatilov. In October 1922, the museum received the name - "Tomsk Regional Museum". In 1923-1924. the museum acquires state status and for the first time is financed as an independent organization. In 1925 the museum became the founder of the Society for the Study of the Tomsk Territory. It includes M.B. Shatilov, B.P. Yukhnevich, N.N. Vvedensky, N.N. Bakai, P.A. Paramonov, N.I. Molotilov, M.A. Khozin, E.G. Mako-Tyumentseva, M.A. Slobodskoy, A.K. Ivanov and others. In December 1925, artists and art lovers united in the Society for the Study of Artistic Creativity. The museum has linguistic, ethnographic circles and a circle of lovers of antiquity, which is actively assisted by the outstanding educator P.I. Makushin. In the 1920-1930s. the foundations of the ethnographic collection are laid. In 1923-1924. as a result of expeditions to Gornaya Shoria, the chairman of the provincial committee for museums and the protection of monuments, Z.S. Gaisin, Shor materials appear in the museum. In the summer of 1924, from an expedition to the Narym Territory, M.B. Shatilov brings Selkup and Evenk items, then from the Vakh expedition in 1926 - Khanty items. Items of Russian ethnography, collected by employees on an expedition to survey the old-timer population in the area of ​​the river. Chulym and Shegarka, enter the museum funds in 1927-1928. The museum funds are replenished with metal-plastic objects of the Early Iron Age from Mount Kulaika in 1925-1928. from the archaeological expeditions of I.M. Myagkova. He also substantiated the identification of the Kulai culture - the brightest phenomenon in West Siberian archeology. In 1928, under the leadership of N.A. Ivanitsky, a nursery of fruit plants is being laid at the museum and work is underway to acclimatize horticultural crops, mulberries and medicinal plants. In 1929, in the natural science department of the museum, R.S. Ilyin begins to collect soil samples, study them, and map the soil zones of Siberia. From the funds of the Tretyakov Gallery, the Rumyantsev Museum and the State Porcelain Museum, collections of fine art come. From the moment of its foundation, the museum has become a research center for the comprehensive study of the Tomsk Territory. In 1930 -s yrs. a program is being developed to survey nearby territories in such areas as the state of crafts and crafts, assessment of fur stocks and fishing resources, the study of flora and fauna, the study of wooden architecture, ethnography, linguistics, archeology, history, local history and even meteorology. The first four volumes of the periodical series "Proceedings of the Tomsk Regional Museum" are published, where the results of the research are published. Museum exhibitions are becoming richer. By 1930, the stationary exposition already occupied 17 halls and had a local history structure with the allocation of artistic, natural science, historical-revolutionary, oriental, agricultural, industrial and anti-religious departments. In 1933, the OGPU arrested the director of the museum, M.B. Shatilov. In 1933-1937. The activities of the institution have practically ceased due to the constant change of leadership and the instability of the museum staff, most of the museum's expositions have been curtailed, the premises have been leased to various institutions. The museum is gradually turning into an institution of ideological propaganda. Agitation work to support the policy of the party is unfolding, "corners" of collectivization, industrialization and atheism appear, the number of lectures, conversations and "readings" is increasing. The "red thread" of the permanent exhibition is the idea of ​​the class struggle and the inevitable victory of socialism. In August 1941 the museum was closed. First, the Pedagogical Institute was located in its building, then the Belotserkovsky Military Infantry and Tula Weapons and Technical Schools. Most of the furniture and paintings were donated to hospitals, theaters and other institutions. However, museum work continues. The stock collection is replenished with letters from the front of Tomsk heroes, artistic drawings by M.M. Shcheglova, L.A. Ostrovoy, E.I. Plekhan, the materials of the Tomsk workshop "Windows TASS" are purchased. At enterprises, in educational institutions, a traveling exhibition "Siberians at the front and in the rear" is exhibited. In 1943, the Tomsk Museum of Local Lore accepts for temporary storage more than 1000 paintings taken out by M.P. Kroshitsky from the besieged Sevastopol. In 1944, an exposition was set up on the basis of the evacuated collection. In 1944, the museum building was vacated from third-party organizations, employees are engaged in the return of collections, but some of them have been lost forever. The difficulties of the post-war period, lack of funds, major repairs of the building delay the restoration of the exposition until 1954, 1950–1961. rise time. The museum has a unique team of employees: N.M. Petrov, R.A. Uraev, I.M. Markov, S.I. Osipova, V.D. Slavnin. Work begins on the creation of a permanent exhibition, the best artists are involved in its design. The museum and local lore council begins to work, which includes scientists from Tomsk. Museum funds are constantly replenished. On the initiative of N.M. Petrov, the museum receives materials related to the life of the Siberian researcher and public and political figure G.N. Potanin. Prominent figures of the Tomsk musical culture M.I. Malomet and N.K. Alexandridi donate their albums, photographs, posters, documents, memories to the museum. In 1957, at the Tomsk Television Studio, the first in Siberia, the museum staff conducted a series of programs about museum collections throughout the year. Since 1962, the museum has been closed for repairs, but under the guidance of TSU professor I.M. During the acceleration, work is underway to create a stationary exposition. In the next decade, museum employees go to the areas of work of oil explorers and fishers, to build the Asino-Bely Yar railway, to timber industry enterprises to collect new material. In 1977, a museum exposition opens. In 1979-1983 . On the basis of the collections of the Tomsk Regional Museum of Local Lore, an art museum was created. In 1980-1982. one of the exhibition halls is handed over for the installation of an organ and a concert hall. In 1984, the local history museum was transformed into the Tomsk State United Historical and Architectural Museum (TGOIAM). As branches, it includes: the Kolpashev Museum of Local Lore, the Narym Memorial Museum of Political Exiles of the Bolsheviks, the House-Museum of Ya.M. Sverdlov in the village of Maksimkin Yar in the Verkhneketsky district and the architectural and ethnographic museum in the village of Kolarovo in the Tomsk region. In July 1985, experts recorded the emergency state of the main building of the museum. After closing in 1988 for repairs and restoration, without having its own exhibition space, the museum organizes mobile and stationary exhibitions in the halls of the Palace of Youth Creativity, the Tomsk Regional Art Museum, the Tomsk Higher Military Command School of Communications, the Museum of Seversk, in the branches of the museum association . Research activities continue, in 1994 the publication of a collection of scientific papers was resumed. The return of the museum to the Tomsk people took place in October 1997, when, after a long repair, part of the exhibition space was opened. Since 1998, the museum is again called the Tomsk Regional Museum of Local Lore. with pupils and students; excursions, lectures, meetings with war and labor veterans. The museum invites exhibitions from different cities. Work is underway on the scientific concept of a stationary exhibition. In 2005, the restoration of the buildings of the estate of I.D. Astashev. The new halls house exhibitions that have received recognition from the audience. Paleolithic on the territory of the Tomsk-Narym Ob region. "Today, the museum is full of energy, creative plans and united by one goal - to preserve and increase the unique collections that are the property of Tomsk residents. Currently, the Tomsk Regional Museum named after Mikhail Bonifatievich Shatilov is the largest cultural institution on the territory of Tomsk areas. TOKM includes departments and branches not only in the city of Tomsk, but also in the territory of the Tomsk region.1. Head Museum 2. Memorial Museum "Investigation Prison of the NKVD"3. Tomsk Planetarium4. Asinovsky Museum of Local Lore5. Kolpashevsky Local Lore Museum6. Narym Museum of Political Exile Podgornensky Regional Museum of Local Lore

On October 4, 2007, a unique museum of Slavic mythology appeared in Tomsk. Surprisingly, despite the popular and sought-after topic, such a thematic museum has never been organized in our country before. The museum appeared on the basis of a private library in Nakhanovich Lane, which contained collections of books on the history of the Russian people. Its director Gennady Pavlov decided to attract a new audience to reading books in an unusual way.

The library collections were reorganized into a museum. In addition to books, paintings and artistic images on the theme of Slavic mythology soon appeared in it. Excursions are designed for different age categories. If children come to the museum, then the emphasis is on legends and fairy tales; if an adult group gathers, then a historical component is added to the program. In the Museum of Slavic Mythology you can learn a lot of interesting things about the most common things, for example about Father Frost and the Snow Maiden. Or, for example, you may know how the Slavic goddess of death and the familiar bride are connected, what the name “Baba Yaga” means and why brownies cry.

Another interesting point about visiting the museum is that local guides, at your request, can explain the original meaning of fairy tales familiar from childhood. For example, in the original version of the fairy tale “Kolobok”, each animal bit off a piece from the main character, thereby symbolizing the waning of the moon. In addition to the art gallery, the museum has a folk arts and crafts shop where you can get acquainted with traditional Russian painting - Gzhel, Khokhloma, Gorodets and Lipetsk painting. Local guides will tell you in detail how one curl differs from another and what symbolic meaning the main patterns carry. Here in the souvenir shop you can buy a box or other keepsake item.

Museum of JSC "Tomsk Beer"

A museum has been organized today at the oldest enterprise in the Tomsk region, OAO Tomsk Pivo. It was created in 2004 as the first museum of this kind beyond the Urals. The museum at the enterprise contains unique beer-themed exhibits - unusual and old beer mugs, rare labels, bottles and other things related to the mystery of brewing. All exhibits date from the 18th century to the present day.

Excursions around the museum of JSC "Tomskoye Pivo" provide a unique opportunity to personally see how beer is brewed on modern equipment from the first stage of crushing malt to bottling the finished product. You can go into each workshop, stand next to the workers and ask all your questions. And of course, in addition to inhaling the real aroma of malt and hops, museum guests have the opportunity to go to the tasting room and try all the varieties of beer available in the assortment of the enterprise.

Unfortunately, the tasting time is rather limited, but those who wish to continue have a great opportunity for this - next to the museum in a beautiful square there is a cafe-bar "At Kruger".

Tomsk Regional Museum of Local Lore

The Tomsk Regional Museum of Local Lore appeared in the city thanks to the initiative of the local intelligentsia. The idea of ​​creating such a museum existed for a long time, but the revolutionary events of 1917 postponed it for several decades.

Initially, the city authorities allocated a place for the construction of a building for the Regional Siberian Scientific and Art Museum named after Alexander II, but soon changed their mind and it was decided to place the museum in the old estate of the gold miner I.D. Astashev. The museum was eventually named the “Museum of Antiquity and Revolution.” Gradually, various materials from local artists, architects, university teachers began to enter the archives of the museum funds, who bit by bit collected objects scattered by the war and revolution that had at least some artistic and historical value.

The first exposition in the museum was opened in 1922, and it was then that the museum got its name corresponding to the direction of its work. Today, the Tomsk Regional Museum of Local Lore, in addition to exhibition activities, is engaged in scientific and educational work. It is the methodological center of museum work for all museums in the region.

Memorial Museum NKVD Investigative Prison

The Memorial Museum "Investigation Prison of the NKVD" in Tomsk is one of the structural divisions of the TOKM. This is an absolutely unique and one-of-a-kind Museum of the NKVD in Russia and in the world. It is of great interest not only for ordinary tourists, but also among government officials, journalists, and the public. The exhibition hall of the museum is located in the basement of the building at 44 Lenin Avenue. From 1923 to 1944, it housed the inner prison of the Tomsk city department of the OGPU-NKVD. The entire area adjacent to the building served as the courtyard of the prison. Nowadays there is a Memory Square on this site. In it, in 2004, monuments were erected to the victims of political repressions in the Tomsk Land. Today the museum and the square are a single historical and architectural memorial complex. The permanent exhibition of the museum is a reconstructed prison corridor and a cell for untried prisoners. Nearby is the completely original interior of the investigator's office.

The four main halls of the museum are located in former prison cells. They contain thematic expositions “The Chronicle of Repressions in the Tomsk Land”, “The Great Terror”, “The Execution Cross”, “The Bialystok Tragedy”, “ChSIRs”, “Their Tragic Fates”, “The Fate of a Priest”, “Kolpashev Yar” and “GULAG and special migrants of the Narym region.” An interesting fact is that all the exhibited documents are fakes or copies of investigative files, the originals of which are stored in the archives of the museum. Here you can see original documents, photo albums, as well as embroideries, paintings, drawings, playing cards, wood and stone crafts made in camps and exiles. Recently, a library with a photo and video archive was organized at the museum, which is constantly updated with new materials. In it you can get acquainted with an open electronic data bank of almost 200 thousand people who went through the crucible of "Cheka" and troikas, dispossession and mass deportations of peoples during the years of Soviet power.

Museum of the History of Tomsk

The Tomsk History Museum is located in a building built in 1859. It was founded in 1997, but only opened to visitors on June 7, 2003. The opening of the museum was marked by the permanent exhibition “Portrait of Old Tomsk”. In addition to it, in the museum you can visit the exposition "The First Century of Tomsk", which presents unique exhibits of the 17th century, as well as reliable reconstructions of household items and city life of Tomsk of that period. It contains rich illustrative and textual material that reveals the topics of the development of Siberia, the foundation of the city of Tomsk, as well as the life and occupations of Tomsk residents in the period from the 17th to the 19th century. Within the framework of the museum there is a permanent exposition "Russian hut of the XIX-XX centuries", "Plan-panorama of the city of Tomsk in the first quarter of the XX century".

The halls of the museum regularly host temporary historical, ethnographic and art exhibitions related to the city. The Museum of the History of Tomsk has a special program for children of preschool and school age, which allows them to get acquainted with the history of their native city. For this, the museum staff organizes not only excursions through the halls of the museum, but also walks around the city with visits to its historical sites. The museum has a kind of observation deck, located in the former fire tower. This is currently the highest equipped view point in the city. On it, in memory of the old days, in 2006, a mannequin of firefighter Athanasius was installed.

Tomsk Regional Art Museum

The Tomsk Regional Art Museum was founded in 1979, although the official opening took place only in 1982. The first exposition was based on the collection of the city's only art department of the Tomsk Museum of Local Lore. It contained small sections of Western European art of the 17th - 19th centuries, several ancient Russian icons, as well as paintings and graphics by Russian artists of the 17th - 20th centuries.

Today, this collection has grown significantly and is a permanent exhibition that occupies two floors of the three-story museum building. The museum's funds contain more than nine thousand different art objects, although most of it today is represented by an extensive collection of works by contemporary authors. In addition to exhibition activities, the museum conducts active research and educational work among different groups of the population. The museum has a lecture hall and a video lecture hall, as well as several art studios for children and adults, which work according to individual author's programs.

Zoological Museum of Tomsk State University

In 1887, a zoological museum was founded at Tomsk State University. Its creation is connected with the receipt of fund material, which included collections of animals from the Arctic Ocean, made by the expedition of the famous polar explorer and scientist Niels Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld. During his end-to-end voyage from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean on the ship "Vega" he was awarded the highest award of the Russian Geographical Society - the Golden Konstantinovskaya medal.

At the end of his expedition, all the collected materials, which turned out to be quite a lot, were donated to the university. After this grand gesture, the Governor-General of the steppe region of Russia, Gerasim Alekseevich Kolpakovsky, handed over his serial scientific collection of bird skins from Kulja and Semirechye. Under the leadership of the first Siberian professor of zoology, N.F. Kashchenko, it was decided to establish a zoological museum in which all the materials obtained could be available to the public. In addition, Kashchenko organized Siberian gatherings with an epicenter in the Tomsk region. Today, the Zoological Museum of Tomsk State University has the largest collection of animals from the territory of Western Siberia, Altai, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, as well as some places in Eastern Siberia and Primorye.

In addition to exhibition activities, the museum organizes research work closely related to the study of birds, as well as butterflies of various groups. Particular emphasis is placed on the study of bird migration, which is used to monitor and control the state of the world stocks of game birds in Western Siberia.

Tomsk Museum of Wooden Architecture

The Tomsk Museum of Wooden Architecture is located outside the city. It is located in an old two-story log house, which itself is a permanent exhibit and an example of Tomsk wooden architecture. It is a rather complex structure with an attic, made in Art Nouveau style. The entire configuration of the building is a series of protruding volumes with numerous decorative finishes that emphasize the plasticity of the log walls.

The museum building is an architectural monument of republican significance. The expositions of the museum are located on the second floor and in the attic room. There are six isolated rooms that open onto a common corridor. The museum's collection includes more than two hundred items. Among them, one can find numerous wooden fragments of houses, carved openwork window trims, pilasters, cornices and other examples of carved decor not only for outdoor architecture, but also for interiors.