Historical and ethnographic museum-reserve "Shushenskoe" (Krasnoyarsk region): description, history

In the heart of Siberia, in a small village in the south of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, there is a place where tourists have come for more than 80 years. The Shushenskoye Museum-Reserve is known to travelers all over the world for a reason: here the life and culture of Russian peasants of the late 19th century are recreated, a unique collection of objects of their life is collected. And also there are houses of famous historical figures of the XX century.

Shushenskoye at the turn of the century

The settlement was founded in 1747 and was gradually populated by people coming from different parts of the Krasnoyarsk Territory. Less than a hundred years later, Shushenskoye became the center of the volost, which included 3 villages and 14 villages. By the end of the 19th century, almost 1,500 people lived here. At the same time, the first political exiles appear here, mostly participants in the uprisings in the Kingdom of Poland.

In 1881, the People's Will deported to Shushensky District: Otorochko, Voevodina, Tyrkova and others. And later - the Social Democrats of Lenin, Krupskaya and Enberg. The reference of these politicians had a great influence on the further development of the village, including the decision to open the museum Shushenskoe reserve.

The history of the reserve in the village

After the death in 1924 of Vladimir Ilyich, the mourning meeting of the peasants bought out the house in which he lived. It was decided to open the Lenin Museum with a library and a reading room. From this began the creation of a reserve.

The ethnographic museum was constantly expanding, new objects and collections appeared in it, various events began to be held. Its development also contributed to the growth of the village, in which today more than 15 thousand people live. In 1993 the historical and ethnographic museum of the Shushenskoye reserve was given its present name.

Main Attractions

In addition to the museum in the house where Lenin stayed temporarily in exile in Shushenskoye, there are 19th-century buildings in which there are expositions of handicrafts: weaving, hunting, woodworking, pottery and cooperage workshops. In these cottages lived and worked peasants of different classes: from the poor to the wealthy, as well as other exiles. Visiting these houses, you can get an idea not only about the life of ordinary people of that time, but also to find out what they devote their time.

In addition to residential buildings, there is also a volost board, a prison, a drinking establishment, a smithy and a shop on the territory. Two monuments to Lenin were erected, the burial of participants in the civil war was arranged. Next to them is an architectural complex called New Village of Shushenskoye. The whole ensemble of buildings is often included in the list, which includes the best museums of Russian wooden architecture. The total area of the reserve is 16 hectares, not including the branches in the villages of Ermakovskom and Sizaya, where the houses of Yarygin, Lepeshkinsky and Vaneev are located.

Lenin's House

The Museum of Lenin was for many years the only object, because of which tourists flocked to the Shushensky district. And despite the fact that the reserve has grown significantly over the years, interest in the historical house has not died out, and it occupies one of the central places in the exposition.

Vladimir Ilyich, known at the time as Ulyanov, settled in Petrova's estate in 1898, when Nadezhda Konstantinovna Krupskaya came to see him along with her mother. The family occupied the kitchen, the upper room and the room in which the couple lived. The furnishings of the premises are recreated according to Krupskaya's memoirs and contemporaries. There are a lot of original things that Ulyanov used: tables, cabinets, chairs, books.

Around the house Petrova, in contrast to other estates, planted daisies, phlox, reseda, raspberry, bird cherry. It was these plants that Krupskaya planted in the courtyard when the couple lived here.

No less fascinating is the visit of the manor of the peasant Zyryanov, where Lenin rented a room from May 1897 to July 1898. The room was recreated in 1939. The situation is extremely simple: a bed, a table, four chairs and shelves for books.

New Village

In this area, not only the village of Shushenskoye is interesting. The Krasnoyarsk Territory is an original place, which has been influenced by the culture of indigenous peoples, the harsh climate and magnificent nature. All this was combined in the so-called New Village, which is a copy of the Siberian settlement of the late XIX century. In addition to the external appearance, the traditions and culture of this time were recreated.

Six mansions offer guests a comfortable stay and an extensive entertainment program. You can try traditional Siberian dishes, visit thematic excursions and master classes, watch performances of a folklore ensemble, ride a horse and spend the night in a peasant house. In addition to the cultural program, there are more modern entertainment: a sauna, billiards, a cafe, a playground for children. At the same time, the complex accommodates up to 30 people.

The Museum of Ivan Yarygin

The museum dedicated to the great sportsman was opened in 1999 in the village of Sizaya, where he lived in his youth. Yarygin passed a long and very bright path from an ordinary wrestler to the president of the sports federation. He was the owner of two Olympic gold medals, for 10 years he was also the head coach of the USSR wrestling team.

Among the exhibits of the museum are not only books, tapes with recordings of tournaments, awards and athletic form of an athlete. Widely represented household items, which Ivan used in his parents' house: brazier, anvil, sledge hammer, cleaver and others. All this is intended to show fellow countrymen and other museum visitors an example of the fact that even in a small village a big Man can grow up.

In addition to the exhibition dedicated to Ivan Yarygin, excursions, master classes for children, sports competitions are regularly held in the village of Sizaya, Maslenitsa, Trinity, Mother's Day and other holidays are widely celebrated.

The village of Ermakovskoe

The museum-reserve Shushenskoe also includes a branch in the village of Ermakovskoe. The main tourist sites are the houses of the revolutionaries Lepeshinsky and Vaneev, who were here in exile. In 1899, it was in Yermakovsky, at a meeting of Marxists led by Lenin, that the "Protest of Russian Social Democrats" was signed.

In addition to exhibitions devoted to the life of the exiles themselves, there are thematic excursions in the houses, revealing the traditions, way of life, food of the peasant families. The exhibits from Shushenskiy are brought here regularly, so that the local population, including pupils of schools, can see the sights of Siberia without leaving Ermakovsky. Employees also conduct classes with children, teaching them painting and applied art. The works of young artists are exhibited in the halls of the museum.

The most valuable collections

In the museum fund of Shushensky there are more than 100 thousand items belonging to 30 collections. They include a huge number of books, furniture, utensils and clothing of the late XIX century. Also among the unique exhibits are coins, paintings, handicrafts and musical instruments.

In the collection of instruments of agriculture of Siberian peasants, there are 345 items. These are devices for loosening the land, sowing and harvesting: plow, sabana, horse plows, hillocks. Also a small hand tool is widely represented: choppers, rakes, sickles and shovels.

No less impressive is the collection of peasant furniture, which includes more than 900 pieces. It is collected exclusively from items found in the territory of the Krasnoyarsk Territory. On the quality and beauty of the material used, it is easy to determine who belonged to one or another element of the situation: the poor used rough-hewn tables and chairs, while wealthy traders could afford beautiful oak furniture.

Also widely represented are cloth products: shirts, towels and hand-made tablecloths, collected in different corners of the former Yenisei province. More than a thousand items, embroidered by hand and carefully kept by the peasants. Still in the museum there are many ceramics, sculptures, icons. And the collection of rare books includes 6,000 copies.

Theater in the museum

Among the residents of Shushensky there are many talented artists, many of whom work in the theater troupe of the reserve. Actors show the guests of the museum Russian folk tales, such as "Geese-swans" or "Magic Puff". In addition to performances, they show visitors scenes of peasant life during excursions.

Young spectators especially like the performances of the puppet theater and its main characters: Petrushka and Matryona. And adults can not remain indifferent to the ideas of the works of Russian classics: Chekhov and Ostrovsky.

Holidays on the territory of the reserve

The museum is a great place for traditional Russian holidays. Every year, thousands of guests come to Shushenskoye to spend Shrovetide or celebrate the Trinity. The Krasnoyarsk Territory at this time becomes the center of popular festivities, holidays are visited not only by residents of neighboring regions and republics, but also by other countries. In addition to participating in traditional entertainments and performances (burning stuffed animals, theatrical performances, rituals with birch), guests can enjoy performances of folklore groups, buy souvenirs made by real masters at the fair.

There are holidays that are celebrated in the reserve with a slightly smaller scale, but because they are no less interesting: Ivan Kupala, the Day of Slavonic writing, Easter and many others. The museum staff tries not to miss a single significant event, due to which the residents and guests of Shushensky are always provided with fascinating and useful leisure.

Ethnographic Festival of Siberia

Since 2003, ethnographic festivals have been held in Shushenskoye. The first of them gathered 7 thousand spectators, and in 2010 their number increased to 35 thousand. The scale of the festival of Siberia's WORLD is growing all the time, it has long been international. His program includes a large number of musical and dance groups, viewing ethnofilms, conducting thematic rituals, introducing guests to the traditional crafts of Siberia.

The festival was supported by the Ministry of Culture. On its territory they hold master classes on decorative and applied creativity and cooking of Russian dishes, study dances of different peoples, organize competitions among musicians and craftsmen. There is a platform for conducting thematic conversations, where it is possible not only to listen to the lecturer and learn interesting historical facts, but also to join with him or other participants in the discussion.

At the World Siberia Fair, you can buy ethnic clothes, amulets, musical instruments, birch bark, wood, cattails, jewelry and even toys from different materials. Masters not only sell their products, they also share their knowledge and skills with pleasure with the guests of the festival.

How to reach the reserve by car

The nearest town to Shushensk is Abakan. From there to the ethnographic museum is best to get there, moving to the southeast along the P-257 highway. And after the village Kazantsevo turn right. After entering Shushenskoye, it is necessary to move straight ahead, along Pervomayskaya Street, then through the World, to the intersection with Lenin. At the roundabout, turn right again.

From Krasnoyarsk you can get there in two ways. Either all along the same federal road P-257, through Abakan, or along the P-255, turning from it to the south in the village of Kuskun. And then continue along a straight line, through Shalinsky, Kuragino, Minusinsk. In the latter, you must return to P-257 again. By distance, these two routes are approximately the same, but the way through Abakan will take less time, as moving all along the federal highway is more pleasant than on the municipal road.

How to get there by public transport

Come to the museum-reserve Shushenskoe, without having your own car, it is almost as simple as it is on a car. From Krasnoyarsk, direct buses run 4 times a day, the road takes just over 8 hours. You can also get to the transport that goes to Kyzyl or Ermakovskoe. These buses also pass through Abakan.