Akzhaik Historical and Local Lore Museum named after V.I. Chapaev

The Akzhaik Museum of History and Local Lore named after V.I. Chapaev was founded in 1941. However, its operations were temporarily suspended during the Great Patriotic War, and the museum only resumed its work in 1959. That same year, it was granted the status of a museum of republican significance. For nearly half a century, the museum's exhibitions primarily focused on the life and military career of the Civil War hero V.I. Chapaev.

In 1977, an additional building was annexed to the museum, housing new exhibitions dedicated to Chapaev’s life and work, as well as the heroic path of the 25th Rifle Division during the Great Patriotic War.

In 2008, the museum underwent a major renovation, resulting in a new exhibition structure with a greater emphasis on regional history and local lore. Today, the museum's exhibition comprises nine thematic halls:

1. Nature Hall - Dedicated to the flora and fauna of the Akzhaik region. The exhibition features rare species of animals and birds listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan, as well as the ichthyofauna of the Ural River and its floodplain.

2. Archaeology Hall - Highlights the lifestyle of ancient tribes that once inhabited the Akzhaik district. Artifacts on display include a bronze cauldron, iron knives and daggers (4th-3rd centuries BCE), a bronze mirror, ceramic vessels, animal bones (6th-5th centuries BCE), and ancient weapons. Special attention is given to the gates of the Kalmykov Prison, where national liberation leaders Isatai Taimanov and Makhambet Utemisov were held between 1829 and 1831. Also exhibited are traditional Kazakh clothing and handcrafted items.

3-4. The Hall of District History and the Great Patriotic War - Features materials related to Victory in the Great Patriotic War: photographs, letters, medals, and weapons belonging to war participants from the region. Among the items are personal belongings of Hero of the Soviet Union Mikhail Abdolov, twice-awarded Hero (of the USSR and Russia) Kairbolat Maidanov, and Nyghmetolla Tleulin, who died in Afghanistan. A special section marks the 85th anniversary of the Akzhaik District, highlighting its development and the contributions of war and labor veterans to the region’s socio-economic growth.

5. Local Poets and Writers Hall - Showcases the lives and works of renowned Kazakh literary figures such as Zhuban Moldagaliyev, Akkuushtap Baktygereeva, and Sagyngali Seitov. Exhibits include their personal belongings, manuscripts, and books.

6. Independence Hall of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Introduces visitors to the country’s achievements since gaining independence, including progress in the Akzhaik District in healthcare, education, culture, sports, agriculture, and entrepreneurship.

7. Chapaev’s 25th Rifle Division Headquarters Hall - Recreates Chapaev’s wartime headquarters, originally located in 1919 in the home of Tatar merchant Manzhukov (built in 1854). The exhibit includes Chapaev’s desk, a burka (cloak), a papakha (fur hat), Baturin’s office, an “Underwood” typewriter, a Morse telegraph, a “Maxim” machine gun, and Red Army uniforms. The first floor features recreated rooms for orderlies and on-duty staff. The hall visually references the famous scene from the film Chapaev - “Where should the commander be during battle?”

8. Diorama Hall - Houses the diorama The Last Battle of Chapaev’s Men near Lbishchensk on September 5, 1919, created by People's Artist of the RSFSR Veniamin Mikhailovich Simbirsky. It was transported from Moscow on January 28, 1976. The diorama vividly illustrates the final battle in which V.I. Chapaev took part.

The Akzhaik Museum of History and Local Lore named after V.I. Chapaev is a significant cultural institution that preserves the region’s rich historical and cultural heritage, promotes scholarly research and the popularization of local history, and plays an important educational and public awareness role.