Almaty Museum

The Almaty Museum was officially opened on September 2, 2002, following the decision made on June 12, 2001, to establish a museum dedicated to the history of the city of Almaty.

Today, the museum is located in the building of the former children's shelter, built in 1892 according to the design of Paul Gourdet, and is an architectural monument of the 19th century. In December 2016, in honor of the 25th anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the 1000th anniversary of the city of Almaty, a new exhibition was opened in this historical building.

The museum’s collection includes works of fine art, a Kazakh ethnographic collection, archaeological artifacts from various eras and cultures, numismatic items, written sources, and other relics. The museum’s exhibition consists of 11 halls, reflecting the history of Almaty from ancient times to the present day.

The exhibition begins with the hall "Ancient and Medieval History of Almaty", which demonstrates the process of the city’s urbanization - from small settlements that appeared three thousand years ago to the transformation of Almaty into an administrative, craft, trade, cultural, and ideological center of the medieval city on the Great Silk Road.

This is followed by the halls: "At the Origins of Kazakh Statehood", "Ethnography of Zhetysu", "The Verny Period in Almaty’s History", "Almaty in the 20th Century", "Development of Professional Art", "Alpinism", "The December Events", "Independence", and the Hall of Temporary Exhibitions.

The total area of the museum is 1,389.5 sq. meters.

The museum fund includes 39,152 items.

Description of the Exhibition Halls:

Halls 1-3: "Ancient and Medieval History of Almaty" - The first settlements in the Almaty area appeared in the 14th-12th centuries BCE. Over the centuries, ethnic and political entities changed, life in the region faded and revived.

The main theme of this section is the urbanization of Almaty from early settlements to a medieval city on the Silk Road - a center of administration, trade, crafts, culture, and ideology.

Silver coins - dirhams from the late 13th century - confirm the city's existence in the 12th-14th centuries, up to the formation of the Kazakh Khanate. The hall includes a wide range of multimedia technology demonstrating rich informational and visual content.

Hall 4: "At the Origins of Kazakh Statehood" - This hall is devoted to the region's history during the formation and development of the Kazakh Khanate, Kazakh military art, and ethnography.

An interactive screen shows maps of the Khanate, genealogies of Kazakh rulers, medieval manuscripts, compositions, and diplomatic correspondence.

The exhibition on medieval Kazakh military art introduces the battle gear of Kazakh warriors from the period of statehood formation.

Hall 5: "Ethnography of Zhetysu" - This section on material culture presents unique examples of Kazakh jewelry, clothing, and household items that tell about the crafts and lifestyle of the Kazakhs of Zhetysu.

Traditional Kazakh housing, customs, rituals, and national games are featured via interactive screens.

Hall 6: "The Verny Period in Almaty’s History" - Dedicated to the development of the city at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries, this hall includes rare examples of woodwork, household items from the 19th century, and conveys the spirit of the era.

The central figure of the exhibition is Andrei Pavlovich Zenkov. Documents, personal belongings, and unique technical designs illustrate the multifaceted work of this great engineer, whose name is associated with the emergence of a new science in the region - earthquake-resistant construction.

Videos show the urban layout, architectural diversity of Verny buildings, and consequences of the destructive earthquakes of 1887 and 1911.

Hall 7: "Almaty in the 20th Century" - This exhibition is devoted to key moments in the history of Almaty as the capital of the Kazakh SSR. Installations and projection screens feature “TurkSib,” “Political Repressions,” and “Almaty during the Great Patriotic War,” reflecting both the tragic pages of national history and the vibrant social and political life during the rise of socialism in the 20th century.

The post-war period is represented by food and light industry products, personal belongings, and household items that allow visitors to experience the atmosphere of the 1950s-1960s.

Hall 8: "Development of Professional Art"- This hall displays television and radio equipment illustrating the history of Kazakh broadcasting.

The development of professional art is closely connected with a galaxy of talented performers and composers such as A. Zhubanov, M. Tulebayev, E. Brusilovsky, K. Baiseitova, R. Baglanova, B. Tulegenova, Y. Serkebayev, and cinema masters Sh. Aimanov, A. Ashimov. Their personal items are preserved in the museum's collections and exhibitions.

Hall 9: "Alpinism" - This hall features photographs and alpine equipment. The history of Kazakhstani alpinism begins in the 1920s.

In the 1930s, climbers began conquering the peaks of the Zailiysky Alatau. In 1930, a group led by G. Beloglazov ascended Small Almaty Peak. Other ascents include Abay Peak, Talgar Peak, Khan Tengri Peak (1936, led by Ye. Kolokolnikov), Zhambyl Peak (1937), and more.

Hall 10: "Dedicated to the December 1986 Events" - This exhibition features unique artifacts, archival documents, photos, and videos reflecting the events of that time.

Personal belongings of Kairat Ryskulbekov and Lazzat Asanova - symbols of the struggle for the future of Independent Kazakhstan - are presented.

Hall 11: "Independence" - In the hall "Almaty - the Cradle of Independence," visitors can use information kiosks to learn about the development of science and education, culture and sports, business and innovation, and historical decisions made in Almaty.

A 3D tour of cultural and sports sites is also available.

The exhibition includes materials on the 7th Asian Winter Games and the 28th Winter Universiade - both held for the first time in Kazakhstan.

The Almaty Museum, opened in 2002, is a major scientific and cultural center that embraces all areas of the historical and cultural heritage of the Zhetysu region.

Its exhibition, consisting of 11 halls, presents the region's history from ancient times to the present. The museum offers information via QR codes in five languages: Kazakh, Russian, English, Chinese, and Turkish. This enables foreign visitors and those with disabilities to explore the exhibition in depth.

The museum is also active internationally. As part of cooperation with foreign museums and under the Association of Museums of Almaty, traveling exhibitions were held in countries such as South Korea, Italy, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Serbia.

These efforts contribute to the global promotion of Kazakhstan’s cultural heritage.

In addition, the museum regularly holds monthly temporary exhibitions, thematic lectures and seminars, museum lessons for schoolchildren, and various cultural and educational programs. These initiatives aim to foster historical awareness in society and engage younger generations with national values.