Zhanaozen City Museum

Zhanaozen City Museum is a cultural and educational institution dedicated to preserving the history, culture, art, and spiritual values of the city, with the mission of transmitting this heritage to future generations. The primary objective of the museum is to contribute to the renewal of public consciousness by collecting, studying, preserving, and promoting the historical and cultural heritage of Zhanaozen and the Mangystau region.

The museum was fully renovated and reopened in a new format on May 9, 1995, in the building of the former city library. In 2010, as part of the “Road Map” program, the museum underwent a major renovation in accordance with modern standards. The total area of the museum is 0.1872 hectares. Currently, the museum's collection includes more than 1,250 registered artifacts.

The museum is a single-story building comprising three exhibition halls:

The First and Second Halls - «The Oil Workers’» Halls - These exhibitions provide comprehensive coverage of the history and stages of development of the Mangystau and Uzen oil and gas industries. They feature extensive materials about individuals who have made significant contributions to the growth of the oil industry, which constitutes the main economic sector of the city. Also presented are accounts of the pioneering work of oil and gas explorers and geologists, the discovery of the region’s first oil fields, and the founding and formative stages of Zhanaozen city.

3. The «Ethnography» Hall - This section displays elements of traditional Kazakh life, including the interior and furnishings of a yurt, national handicrafts, jewelry, and household items. Additionally, the hall features specimens of local bird species, commemorative corners dedicated to veterans of the Great Patriotic War and the Afghan War, as well as materials related to the city’s infrastructural development, cultural life, and artistic achievements.

The museum serves the public good by hosting various ceremonial events and meetings. During these events, honored oil workers, veteran educators, and war veterans who have contributed to the city’s development are specially invited and publicly acknowledged. Such activities aim to instill patriotism in the younger generation and preserve historical memory.

The museum staff work in close collaboration with the educational community, organizing educational, developmental, and patriotic activities for schoolchildren and students. Every Wednesday, the museum holds an open house day. Furthermore, museum employees are actively engaged in research-related work, including collection management, methodological development, educational outreach, and scholarly studies, with a focus on promoting the spiritual heritage of the Kazakh people.

One of the museum’s ongoing initiatives is the monthly campaign entitled “Let Artifacts Not Be Forgotten.” This program involves the collection of valuable items from the public, thereby significantly enriching the museum’s holdings.

The Zhanaozen City Museum stands as a mirror of the city’s history and a vital spiritual center dedicated to gathering and disseminating national heritage.