|
The collection of the Kingisepp Museum of
Local History and Tradition amounts to more than 15 thousand
exhibition items. They are mostly archeological finds, as
well as treasures of folk art and traditional culture of different
ethnic groups living in the region, many of them being gifts
of private and corporate donors.
The historical exhibit of the museum shows
the finds from the first Slavic settlements of the 8th-9th
centuries as well as those from the Finno-Ugric ones referring
to the 12th-13th century. The main section of the exhibit
represents the medieval period when the Yam fortress was laid
here to protect the borders of the Great Novgorod State. The
town of Yamburg grew around the Yam fortress. In 1922 it was
renamed in the honour of the revolutionary activist Victor
Kingisepp.
The museum was founded in 1960 and its first
director was Smolsky, one of the organizers of the Community
counsel. He initiated the museum creation. After residing
in the former Ekaterininsky cathedral (erected by architect
Antonio Rinaldi in 1764-1782 in accordance with the appointment
of Catherine II), the museum returned it to the Orthodox community
and moved to another place in 1990.
Now it occupies the former building of Yamburg
commercial college (designed by engineer K.Vasiliev) which
is being restored with the support of local administration.
When the works are done, the collection will be displayed
in full and the museum will become a centre of community life
holding art exhibitions and other cultural events.
|