The Balakhna Museum Complex of History and Art is one of the oldest museums in the Nizhny Novgorod region.
Its history began in 1926 with the formation of the Balakhna Archaeological and Ethnological Scientific Society, thanks to which it was possible to preserve many unique ancient monuments. Its establishment was initiated by the school teachers Viktor Nikolaevich Kirillov, Alexander Mikhailovich Denitsyn, Peter Petrovich Rozanov and others who decided to protect the cultural and historical heritage of the town at a time when a campaign calling for looting churches was underway. Local authorities supported the idea, and a large number of like-minded people joined the society. On November 7, 1927, on the 10th anniversary of the Great October, the Balakhna History and Everyday Life Museum was opened.
Through the efforts of the first director of the museum, Viktor Nikolaevich Kirillov, the organization received for its needs the premises of three ruined churches: a library was located in the wooden Transfiguration Church, the museum itself was housed in the Church of the Theotokos of the Sign, the Departments of Handicraft and Industrial and Natural History were given the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
Employees worked with pre-revolutionary archives, collected tiles, conducted archaeological excavations, photographed architectural monuments, and wrote scientific articles. Thus, it was possible to preserve, if not the ancient churches themselves, then at least their appearance.
The accomplished work made it possible to assert that “despite the export of valuable antiques to central museums and an exploitative practice of buying out antiquities, the [Balakhninsky district] is still very rich in old artifacts.”
Gradually, the museum grew into a large complex and included the Plotnikov House, the Khudyakov Estate, the Kuzma Minin Museum, the “Black Swan” Glass Museum and the Bolshoye Kozino History Museum.
Workshops dedicated to lace weaving, Zhbannikovo’s whistle, and wood carving are run by the complex. Museum employees, as before, conduct archaeological research, participate in exhibitions and scientific conferences.
The museum’s collections number 20,000 items, including ancient manuscripts and photographs, minerals and herbariums, weapons and clothing, icons and church utensils, and much more
Its history began in 1926 with the formation of the Balakhna Archaeological and Ethnological Scientific Society, thanks to which it was possible to preserve many unique ancient monuments. Its establishment was initiated by the school teachers Viktor Nikolaevich Kirillov, Alexander Mikhailovich Denitsyn, Peter Petrovich Rozanov and others who decided to protect the cultural and historical heritage of the town at a time when a campaign calling for looting churches was underway. Local authorities supported the idea, and a large number of like-minded people joined the society. On November 7, 1927, on the 10th anniversary of the Great October, the Balakhna History and Everyday Life Museum was opened.
Through the efforts of the first director of the museum, Viktor Nikolaevich Kirillov, the organization received for its needs the premises of three ruined churches: a library was located in the wooden Transfiguration Church, the museum itself was housed in the Church of the Theotokos of the Sign, the Departments of Handicraft and Industrial and Natural History were given the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
Employees worked with pre-revolutionary archives, collected tiles, conducted archaeological excavations, photographed architectural monuments, and wrote scientific articles. Thus, it was possible to preserve, if not the ancient churches themselves, then at least their appearance.
The accomplished work made it possible to assert that “despite the export of valuable antiques to central museums and an exploitative practice of buying out antiquities, the [Balakhninsky district] is still very rich in old artifacts.”
Gradually, the museum grew into a large complex and included the Plotnikov House, the Khudyakov Estate, the Kuzma Minin Museum, the “Black Swan” Glass Museum and the Bolshoye Kozino History Museum.
Workshops dedicated to lace weaving, Zhbannikovo’s whistle, and wood carving are run by the complex. Museum employees, as before, conduct archaeological research, participate in exhibitions and scientific conferences.
The museum’s collections number 20,000 items, including ancient manuscripts and photographs, minerals and herbariums, weapons and clothing, icons and church utensils, and much more
