Mangistau Regional Museum of History and Local Lore named after A. Kekilbayev

The development of museum work in the Mangystau region began in 1932. That year, the first memorial museum dedicated to the great Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko was established. In 1984, an ethnographic museum was opened in the city of Fort-Shevchenko on the initiative of local historian Yesbol Omirbayev.

The Mangystau Regional Museum of History and Local Lore was founded in 1975 in the city of Aktau. Today, it is a significant scientific and cultural institution engaged in collecting, preserving, studying, and promoting the historical and cultural heritage of the region. In 2019, the museum was named after Abish Kekilbayev, a prominent statesman and public figure, Hero of Labour of Kazakhstan, and People’s Writer, and a new museum complex was inaugurated. The museum’s collection includes approximately 80,000 artifacts.

The modern museum building, with a total area of 8,560 square meters, features 8 thematic halls and 1 exhibition hall.

Museum Exhibition Halls:

1. "The Life and Work of Abish Kekilbayev" hall - This hall presents information about the writer’s homeland, his family, the schools he attended, his first teachers, and his early articles written during school years. It also features photographs of his student years at Kazakh State University, his early professional path, scientific research, and creative collaborations.

2. "Modern Kazakhstan" hall - This section covers events from the 1980s to the present day. The first part showcases the December demonstrations, the founding of the "Parasat" society, and the achievements of Kazakh cosmonauts launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The next part highlights the accomplishments of independent Kazakhstan: joining the UN, formation of the national armed forces, introduction of the national currency, and the hosting of the World Kurultai of Kazakhs. A separate section is dedicated to the state symbols - the national anthem, coat of arms, and flag, along with information about their authors.

3. "The City of Aktau and the History of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan" hall - This hall presents the history of Aktau’s development, the founding of its first industrial enterprises, uranium production, and the work of multinational labor collectives. It also includes materials on Aktau’s honorary citizens and the creation of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, as well as the activities of ethno-cultural centers. Today, more than 60 ethnic groups live in the Mangystau region, and their cultural interaction and cooperation are reflected in this hall.

4. "Archaeology" hall - This hall features archaeological artifacts dating from the Stone Age to the Bronze and Iron Ages. Research conducted by A. Medoev and A. Astafiev offers insight into the lives of the region’s earliest inhabitants. The exhibition includes Eneolithic and Bronze Age settlements and temples, hunting traps (known as "aran"), and ancient necropolises discovered on the Ustyurt Plateau.

5. "Oil Industry" hall - This section demonstrates how oil has been used in everyday life since ancient times and how its scientific exploration and industrial development began on the Mangyshlak Peninsula. In 1832, researcher G.S. Karelin was the first to record the presence of oil sources along the Caspian Sea coast. The hall exhibits historical documents and objects related to the oil industry in the region.

6. "History" hall - Covering an area of 509 square meters, this exhibition highlights the history of Mangystau from the 18th to the 20th centuries. It presents information about the institution of batyrs (warriors) and biys (judges), agriculture, water sources, the 1870 national liberation uprising led by Isa and Dosan, underground mosques and madrasas, the colonial policies of the Russian Empire, fishing, well digging, and traditional jewelry.

In the near future, the opening of the "Nature" Hall and the "Ethnography, Culture and Art" Hall is planned.

The museum's exhibitions are dedicated to the nature, archaeology, ethnography, history, notable figures, and modern achievements of the Mangystau region. In addition, archaeological excavations are conducted, and each artifact is included in the museum’s collection based on a scientific description. Museum staff regularly enhance their qualifications by participating in scientific-practical conferences, seminars, and training sessions.