The I. Zhansugurov Historical and Local Lore Museum

The museum’s exhibition introduces visitors to the history and nature of the Aksu district, as well as to household items and the lives of notable historical figures from the region: famous batyrs (warriors), biys (judges), poets, writers, and state and public figures.

The Ilyas Zhansugurov Museum, under the management of the Zhetysu Regional Department of Culture, was founded at the proposal of the Aksu District Department of Culture, in accordance with Order No. 59 dated July 3, 1991, of the Taldykorgan Regional Culture Committee. In 1994, the museum opened as a branch of the regional historical and local history museum in honor of the 100th anniversary of the poet Ilyas Zhansugurov.

The museum consists of six sections:

1. Nature Hall

2. Ancient and Medieval History and the Era of the Kazakh Khanate

3. Ethnography Hall

4. History of the Second Half of the 19th Century

5. “Kulgager Poetry - Ilyas Zhansugurov” Hall

6. Regional History in the Soviet Era

1. Nature Hall. The Nature Hall presents the flora and fauna of the Aksu district, its ecological diversity, natural resources, and the richness of medicinal herbs. This section includes exhibits of local wild animals and birds, insects, medicinal plants, and samples of mineral rocks.

2. Ancient and Medieval History and the Era of the Kazakh Khanate. This hall displays archaeological artifacts discovered at a medieval settlement, including bricks, water pipes, jugs, and balbals (stone monuments dating from the 9th-11th centuries). The hall also features images of batyrs and biys from the Aksu region during the Kazakh Khanate era, as well as a diorama depicting the Dzungar invasions.

3. Ethnography Hall. This hall presents the traditional life and culture of the Kazakh people. The exhibition begins with an ancient Kazakh dwelling - the yurt - furnished with household items, furniture, tableware, kitchen utensils, and hearths. Additionally, male and female national costumes, silver-inlaid horse tack, and musical instruments typical of the period are on display. This section aims to familiarize visitors with the traditional lifestyle and cultural heritage of the Kazakh people.

4. History of the Second Half of the 19th Century. This hall presents the culture and social life of the Aksu region during the second half of the 19th century. The section includes the creative legacy of poets, aitys performers, teachers, as well as a model of the Mamanya school, founded in 1899 in the village of Karagash, and materials about its history. The exhibition also provides information on the lives of the school’s teachers, the establishment of Soviet power, repressions, and the events of the famine years. This section illustrates the historical development of the Aksu region, the growth of education and culture, and the hardships faced by the population.

5. “Kulgager Poetry - Ilyas Zhansugurov” Hall. This hall is dedicated to the life and work of Ilyas Zhansugurov, a prominent figure in Kazakh literature. The exhibition presents materials on the poet’s creative path, family information, original documents, and copies. Additionally, it includes significant items from the life of Zhansugurov’s wife, Fatima Gabitova, as well as materials on the poet’s final years, his arrest and execution, and valuable information about his unjustly punished fate. This section highlights Zhansugurov’s place in Kazakh poetry and his major contribution to the nation’s cultural development.

6. Regional History in the Soviet Era. This hall narrates the challenging and heroic years of the Great Patriotic War, the feats and selfless labor of war and labor veterans, and presents the historical chronicle of that turbulent period. The section reflects the lives and activities of teachers, scholars, poets, writers, and cultural figures from the Aksu region, as well as the fates of individuals who made significant contributions to the region’s development. The exhibition aims to recreate the difficult and courageous stages of the Soviet era and honor the names of outstanding individuals who dedicated their work to the prosperity of the region and the country as a whole.

Most Valuable Exhibits in the Museum Collection

1. Dombra. A valuable musical instrument gifted by the Zhetysu folk poet Kuat Teribaev to Ilyas Zhansugurov. This dombra, having belonged to Zhansugurov, is not only one of his personal items but also a precious heritage rooted deeply in Kazakh musical culture.

2. Hand Chest. This chest belonged to Ilyas Zhansugurov and was used between 1934-1936. Its top and front surfaces are decorated with geometric and floral ornaments in the national style, and its edges are reinforced with metal. A metal lock and handle are mounted on the front.

3. Book “Our Labor.” “Our Labor” is a valuable legacy left by Zhansugurov to his contemporaries and future generations. The book was published during his lifetime in 1934 by the Oryl Publishing House. Dimensions: height - 29 cm, width - 20 cm, 73 pages.

4. Excerpt from the Poem “Kulgager” by I. Zhansugurov. A newspaper clipping. This valuable clipping presents a fragment of the poem “Kulgager,” which became a gem of Kazakh literature. The excerpts were published on November 22 and 25, 1936, in the Latin alphabet and presented to the public, reflecting a significant stage of Zhansugurov’s creative path.

5. Balbal Stone. This balbal stone is an important archaeological artifact belonging to the Turkic Khaganate of the 9th-11th centuries. Its dimensions are 150 × 40 cm, and it weighs about 500 kg. The stone monument vividly reflects the culture and art of that historical period.

Opening Hours:

Mon - closed

Tue-Sun: 9:00 - 18:00

Paid Services:

Adults: with a guided tour - 300 KZT, without a tour - 250 KZT; for foreign visitors - 3000 KZT

Students and pensioners: with a guided tour - 250 KZT, without a tour - 200 KZT

Schoolchildren: with a guided tour - 200 KZT, without a tour - 150 KZT