In 1883, the newspaper “Vladivostok” published a proposal by the naval mechanic Alexander Mikhailovich Ustinov to create a museum in the city, which was not yet a quarter of a century old. Thus, the Museum of the Society for the Study of the Amur Region appeared in Vladivostok in 1884. The first building of the museum was constructed “corporately”, on donations of citizens, and on September 30, 1890 the first museum in Eastern Siberia was solemnly opened for visitors.
Vladimir Klavdievich Arseniev, an officer, traveler, writer and scientist, became the godfather of the museum. During 30 years living in the Far East, Arseniev conducted 12 major expeditions, discovered more than 200 archeological monuments and collected extensive materials, which were added to the museum holdings. Since September 4, 1945 the museum has borne his name.
Now the museum has four locations in Vladivostok and five more in towns and villages of Primorsky Krai. The “Time of the City” excursion bureau operates under the museum’s aegis. During walking and bus tours around the city, museum guides recount the history of Vladivostok in different epochs.
