Akmola Regional Museum of History and Local Lore

Akmola Regional Museum of History and Local Lore is one of the oldest cultural institutions in Kazakhstan, occupying an important place in the historical and cultural landscape of the country. The museum is dedicated to the collection, preservation, and popularization of the region’s rich historical, archaeological, ethnographic, and natural heritage. Founded in 1920, it began its operations as the Kokshetau Museum of History and Local Lore and the Museum of Visual Aids under the County Department of Public Education.

The initial collection consisted of approximately 130 historically significant items gathered from school collections and donated by local residents and teachers. These exhibits were initially displayed in one of the rooms of the education department and made accessible to the public. 

Following the establishment of Kokshetau Region in 1944, the institution was granted the status of Kokshetau Regional Museum of History and Local Lore in January 1945. At that time, the museum was allocated a building of a former mosque in the city center, significantly expanding its exhibition space. Since 1974, the museum has been located in a two-story brick building near the central square of Kokshetau. Built in 1904, the building is now a protected monument of history and architecture.

In 2000, when the city of Kokshetau became the administrative center of Akmola Region, the museum was renamed the Akmola Regional Museum of History and Local Lore. The first large-scale renovation of the institution was carried out in 2012.

One of the museum’s unique projects is the open-air museum "Botai-Burabay," which offers a scientific and visual representation of the Botai culture, dating back to the Eneolithic period. The exhibition includes reconstructions based on real archaeological materials, illustrating scenes of horse domestication, housing construction, and the organization of ancient economies.

In 2019, a complete re-exposition was carried out in all the museum halls using new innovative technologies. After the renovation, the museum reopened to visitors on January 6, 2020.

Today, the museum's collections include over 83,000 unique artifacts. These items comprehensively reflect the natural, archaeological, ethnographic, historical, and cultural development of the region. The most valuable and scientifically significant pieces are presented in the newly renovated exhibition halls. The museum also includes modern departments for scientific research, restoration, guided tours, and educational outreach.

The Akmola Regional Museum of History and Local Lore not only introduces visitors to the history of the region but also plays a significant role in shaping Kazakhstan’s historical consciousness, fostering patriotism among youth, advancing scholarly research, and promoting museum culture as a whole.