Literary and Memorial Museum of Zhambyl Zhabayev
The Zhambyl Zhabayev Literary and Memorial Museum is one of Kazakhstan’s most prominent literary and historical institutions. It offers a comprehensive representation of the life and creative work of the great Kazakh poet-improviser and a vivid figure of the epic tradition - Zhambyl Zhabayev - as well as his role in modern culture and public life. In 1938, the republic celebrated the 75th anniversary of Zhambyl’s poetic career on a grand scale. In honor of this jubilee, the Soviet government paid special tribute to the poet: he was gifted a spacious 12-room house and a car in the village of Zhambyl, located near the city of Almaty. In addition, the state fully provided for his daily needs - including a personal physician, a cook, and literary secretaries.
Zhambyl Zhabayev passed away on June 22, 1945, at 7:55 a.m., at the age of 99 years and 4 months. In accordance with his final wish, he was buried in the apple orchard of his own home. This decision reflected both a deep respect for the poet and a reverence for Kazakh traditions tied to the land. In 1946, on the eve of the 100th anniversary of his birth, the government of the Kazakh SSR issued a decree to transform his home into a literary and memorial museum. After a year of preparation, the museum was officially opened on May 25, 1947.
The main museum building is the poet’s 12-room house, six of which have been preserved as memorial rooms. These rooms contain original items that belonged to Zhambyl Zhabayev - including furniture, clothing, household items, and manuscripts - offering an authentic recreation of his living environment and the spirit of his time.
Today, the museum's collection holds over 3,310 artifacts. Most of them consist of the poet’s personal belongings, photographs, manuscripts, books, and letters. The collection also includes translations of his works into various languages. In addition to documenting Zhambyl's creative legacy, the museum introduces visitors to his socio-political activities and his place within the literary and ideological framework of the Soviet era. Zhambyl’s poetry gained recognition far beyond the USSR and was translated into many languages worldwide. Behind the main museum building stands the poet’s mausoleum. It was erected in 1946 in honor of Zhambyl Zhabayev’s centenary and built in a traditional Eastern architectural style. The design of the mausoleum was created by the People’s Artist of Kazakhstan, Abylkhan Kasteyev, while the architectural work was carried out by Belotserkovsky - then the chief architect of Almaty. The mausoleum stands 18 meters tall; in 1971, it was clad in white marble, and in 1983, the dome was raised by an additional 4 meters, giving the structure a more majestic appearance. For the poet’s 150th anniversary, the facade was decorated with ornamental tiles specially brought from Iran. In front of the mausoleum stands a sculpture of a red tiger - a symbolic representation of Zhambyl.
Next to the mausoleum is the grave of the prominent Kazakh composer, founder, and conductor of the folk orchestra “Otyrar Sazy” - Nurgisa Tlendiyev. In accordance with his will, he was buried next to Zhambyl Zhabayev.