Yaroslavl Museum Reserve

The Yaroslavl Museum Reserve originated from a scientific community museum, which is deemed to date back to 1865. In the 1930’s, the museum collection grew by adding icons from churches and monasteries closed down in Soviet time. Also museums acquired some of their exhibits from nationalized noblemen’s estates.

In 1969, the museum was reorganized and got its current name, Yaroslavl Museum Reserve. It also came to include famous architectural monuments: Yaroslavl churches and monasteries.

As of today, it holds major collections of icons, rare books, fancy fabrics, paintings and graphic art, botanical and palaeontological collections. The zoological collection includes taxidermy mounts of rare and extinct animals.