Memorial museums of the famous gunsmith Mikhail Kalashnikov were opened during his lifetime in Kurya, his native town, and in Izhevsk where the designer lived and worked throughout his life. The Izhevsk Museum was launched in February 2004, and the construction of the building began much earlier, in the mid-90’s.
The official opening took place in late autumn and was timed to coincide with the 85th anniversary of Mikhail Timofeevich. The ceremony was attended by leaders of the region, representatives of the federal government and, of course, the hero of the day. Speaking at the opening of the museum, the hero of the occasion noted that the museum was needed to bring up the younger generation in the spirit of respect for the elders, love for their past and the history of Russia. Kalashnikov stressed that the establishment of the museum was honoring of all those who dedicated their working lives to the development and creation of new models, supporting and strengthening the glory of the Russian small arms.
In 2005, the place acquired the status of a museum and exhibition complex and has since been called the M.T.Kalashnikov Museum and Exhibition Complex of Small Arms. During the first years of its activity, the institution was awarded many awards and honorary titles, having taken part in the all-Russian ROST exhibitions and festivals, numerous museum forums and conferences. A few years after the opening, the Complex was listed in the All-Russian Book of Honor and awarded a memorial sign for educating citizens in the spirit of patriotism.
To this day, M.T.Kalashnikov Museum and Exhibition Complex of Small Arms continues to engage in activities related to popular education and promotion of love for the Motherland. On the territory of the complex there is a permanent exhibition dedicated to the life and work of Mikhail Kalashnikov, as well as temporary expositions telling the history of the city-factory of Izhevsk and various types of small arms. The exhibition area of the museum covers an area of 0.1 hectares, which is about a fourth of the total area of the building.
The museum rooms and archives store more than 6 thousand thematic exhibits. There are regular exhibitions designed for children of preschool and school age; special educational programs are held. There are also firearms and pneumatic shooting ranges for those who want to immediately put into practice the acquired knowledge of small arms.
At the opening ceremony of the museum and exhibition complex, Mikhail Kalashnikov was accompanied by Nikolai Shklyaev, the designer’s right-hand man, assistant and referent. Nikolay Shklyaev is one of those people who went hand in hand with the designer for many years. The companions met back in the distant Soviet era, at the turn of the 1960’s. Young specialist Nikolai Shklyaev came to the Izhmash Plant where Kalashnikov worked, and since then they have been linked by inextricable half-century cooperation.
According to Shklyaev, who graduated from the F.E.Dzerzhinsky Military Engineering Artillery Academy, Mikhail Kalashnikov had broad practical knowledge in the design of small arms. Despite the lack of a higher engineering education, Kalashnikov was well versed in the structural properties of weapons-grade materials and parts, and an innate instinct never let the master down. Kalashnikov believed that his luck consisted of a long list of people who helped him throughout his working life, and Nikolai Shklyaev stood in the top of this list.
The official opening took place in late autumn and was timed to coincide with the 85th anniversary of Mikhail Timofeevich. The ceremony was attended by leaders of the region, representatives of the federal government and, of course, the hero of the day. Speaking at the opening of the museum, the hero of the occasion noted that the museum was needed to bring up the younger generation in the spirit of respect for the elders, love for their past and the history of Russia. Kalashnikov stressed that the establishment of the museum was honoring of all those who dedicated their working lives to the development and creation of new models, supporting and strengthening the glory of the Russian small arms.
In 2005, the place acquired the status of a museum and exhibition complex and has since been called the M.T.Kalashnikov Museum and Exhibition Complex of Small Arms. During the first years of its activity, the institution was awarded many awards and honorary titles, having taken part in the all-Russian ROST exhibitions and festivals, numerous museum forums and conferences. A few years after the opening, the Complex was listed in the All-Russian Book of Honor and awarded a memorial sign for educating citizens in the spirit of patriotism.
To this day, M.T.Kalashnikov Museum and Exhibition Complex of Small Arms continues to engage in activities related to popular education and promotion of love for the Motherland. On the territory of the complex there is a permanent exhibition dedicated to the life and work of Mikhail Kalashnikov, as well as temporary expositions telling the history of the city-factory of Izhevsk and various types of small arms. The exhibition area of the museum covers an area of 0.1 hectares, which is about a fourth of the total area of the building.
The museum rooms and archives store more than 6 thousand thematic exhibits. There are regular exhibitions designed for children of preschool and school age; special educational programs are held. There are also firearms and pneumatic shooting ranges for those who want to immediately put into practice the acquired knowledge of small arms.
At the opening ceremony of the museum and exhibition complex, Mikhail Kalashnikov was accompanied by Nikolai Shklyaev, the designer’s right-hand man, assistant and referent. Nikolay Shklyaev is one of those people who went hand in hand with the designer for many years. The companions met back in the distant Soviet era, at the turn of the 1960’s. Young specialist Nikolai Shklyaev came to the Izhmash Plant where Kalashnikov worked, and since then they have been linked by inextricable half-century cooperation.
According to Shklyaev, who graduated from the F.E.Dzerzhinsky Military Engineering Artillery Academy, Mikhail Kalashnikov had broad practical knowledge in the design of small arms. Despite the lack of a higher engineering education, Kalashnikov was well versed in the structural properties of weapons-grade materials and parts, and an innate instinct never let the master down. Kalashnikov believed that his luck consisted of a long list of people who helped him throughout his working life, and Nikolai Shklyaev stood in the top of this list.
