Samarkand Museum of Local Lore

Samarkand Regional Museum of Local Lore – a historic profile museum in Samarkand dedicated to the history of the local region from ancient times to the early 20th century. Since 1982 it has been included in the Samarkand State United Historical Architectural and Artistic Museum‑Fortress (now Samarkand State Museum‑Fortress).

About the museum building

The museum was opened in a historic building constructed in the historical style from 1902 to 1916 according to the project of architect E. O. Nelle, based on the collections of the Museum of the History of Uzbek Culture and Art and belonging to the first guild merchant Abram Kalantarov. Five buildings were erected in the courtyard during 1902–1916.

The interior of the building always arouses great interest among visitors. Experienced craftsmen – Master Kamol, Master Sodiq, Master Hofiz and others participated in the decoration. More than 130,000 gold rubles were spent on the construction of the palace. Today the palace is rightly considered an architectural monument of the early 20th century and is protected by the state. The bright, colorful hall – the guest room – has retained its original decorations like the other rooms.

Exhibition

Exhibitions on history, nature and the Jews of the region are active in the museum.

All rooms inside the building are arranged sequentially, forming an enfilade.

The guest room and some rooms are preserved in their original condition. The guest room is decorated with beautiful and varied colors. The ceiling is carved on a straw base and painted with oil paints; the walls feature carved “paradox” style work on plaster, and colorful stained‑glass windows together with wrought‑iron grilles give a unique beauty. An elegant, sparkling crystal chandelier hangs in the guest room.

The building is equipped with 7 mysterious ceramic decorative "fireplace" stoves for winter heating, whose decorations have given a special beauty to the rooms.

On the first floor of the building, objects found from various regions of our country ranging from ancient times to the beginning of the 20th century are displayed, introducing the region's unique history, the customs and ceremonies of the peoples of the region, primitive culture, the formation of Sogd, one of the oldest states of Central Asia, monuments of material culture of the early, developed and late medieval periods, and traditional national culture.

In the hotel, furniture of the "empire" style from the late 18th and early 19th centuries is exhibited. According to some specialists, the furniture may belong to Emperor Napoleon and was brought to Saint Petersburg by Emperor Alexander I as a gift to one of the palace officials.

In the nature exhibition located on the museum's 2nd floor, the province's fauna and flora, including specimens of endangered animals and birds listed in the "Red Book," as well as plant species and herbariums, are also displayed.

Currently, the museum hosts the exhibition "Jews of the Past and Present in the Region," organized with the help of the international Joint organization. The exhibits tell the history of the Jewish quarter, the life, customs and ceremonies of the region's Jews.

Today the museum exhibition contains more than 2000 exhibits.