State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve “Saraishyq”

The foundation of the Saraishyq Museum-Reserve was first laid in 1963 on a voluntary basis. In 1971, the institution officially received the status of a branch of the Atyrau Regional Museum of History and Local Lore under the name Sarayshyq Village Museum of History and Local Lore and continued its operations. The museum's first exhibition was housed in the building of an agricultural experimental station.

In 1999, the Saraishyq Museum-Reserve was reorganized both structurally and conceptually, and on May 2 of that year, the Khan Ordaly Saraishyq Museum-Reserve was established on its basis. The official opening of the institution took place on September 3 of the same year. Later, on April 4, 2018, by the Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan No. 162, the museum-reserve was granted the status of a republican state-owned enterprise and transferred to the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The main mission of the museum-reserve is the preservation of historical and cultural heritage, its scholarly research, and the organization of cultural, educational, and tourism-related activities. As part of this mission, the institution carries out the following types of activities:

• conducting research, methodological, and cultural-educational work aimed at the study, preservation, and effective use of historical and cultural heritage sites;

• developing international and interdepartmental scientific, technical, and cultural cooperation in the field of museology;

• ensuring the protection of historical and cultural monuments, protective zones, natural landscapes, and museum assets;

• systematizing museum collections, performing research and archival work, and developing scientific concepts in accordance with the institution’s strategic directions;

• organizing scientific and practical conferences and seminars on historical and cultural topics;

• developing and designing thematic and exhibition plans for displays and exhibitions;

• preparing educational and methodological materials and academic publications, as well as collecting photo and video materials to enrich the museum's holdings.

The State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve "Saraishyq" is a unique institution recognized as an important scientific and cultural center for the study of the history of medieval Kazakhstan, particularly the archaeological, cultural, and spiritual heritage of the city of Sarayshyq.