Historical and Local Lore Museum of Atyrau Region

Atyrau Regional Museum of History and Local Lore was founded in 1939 and officially opened on November 5, 1940. Initially, the museum was located in the building of a former Russian church, occupying a total area of 240 square meters and holding a collection of 264 exhibits. Since then, the institution has undergone development and modernization. On September 3, 1999, the museum was renovated and relocated to a two-story building of the former Cultural and Educational College in the city of Atyrau. Today, the total area of the museum amounts to 3,658 square meters.

Currently, the museum comprises seven exhibition halls:

1. The Ethnography Hall - introduces visitors to the lifestyle, crafts, clothing, and traditions of the Kazakh people.

2. The Nature of the Region Exhibition - provides information about the flora, fauna, and geographical features of the Atyrau Region.

3. The Archaeology Hall - displays ancient artifacts discovered during archaeological excavations in the region.

4. The Hall "Great Ulus - The Golden Horde" - features historical materials and samples of material culture from the Golden Horde of the 13th-15th centuries.

5. The History of the Region in the 17th-20th Centuries Hall - covers the historical development of the region in modern times.

6. The 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War Hall - presents documents and exhibits that tell the story of local residents’ heroism during the war years.

7. The History of Independent Kazakhstan Hall - is dedicated to the achievements and transformations that occurred in the country after gaining independence.

The museum’s primary mission is the research, preservation, and popularization of the historical and cultural heritage of the Atyrau Region. In addition to scholarly work, the institution organizes archaeological surveys and excavations. The museum’s collection includes valuable historical, ethnographic, archaeological, and natural-biological artifacts gathered from various regions of Kazakhstan.

Of particular note is the museum’s scientific and cultural-educational activity. It regularly hosts international and national-level exhibitions, scientific-practical conferences, regional competitions, meetings of scientific councils, and procurement commissions for museum items. The museum also conducts educational workshops, traveling exhibitions, and intellectual games such as museum quests designed for schoolchildren and young people.

The museum supports several youth clubs: “Young Tour Guides” and “Young Local Historians” in the Kurmangazy District Museum, and “Young Regional Researchers” in the Isatay District Museum. These clubs carry out systematic work aimed at expanding historical knowledge and fostering young people's interest in local history.

Atyrau Regional Museum of History and Local Lore is a major scientific and cultural institution that plays a vital role in preserving the historical memory of the region, introducing it into scholarly discourse, and promoting cultural heritage.