Museums and galleries in Yakutsk

Museums and galleries in Yakutsk

1. See

   Mammoth Museum

   Музей мамонта

   This museum has one of the world's most diverse collections of exhibits from the Ice Age. The centerpiece of the collection is the cryogenically (and completely) preserved head of a woolly mammoth. The mammoth head often travels to museums outside of Yakutsk, so check ahead to make sure it's on display.

   Daily 10:00-18:00

2. See

   Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography of the Yakutsk University

   Музей археологии и этнографии ЯГУ

   The exhibits here show the history of the peoples of Yakutsk, exhibited in an interesting exposition of objects of everyday life and the mythology of the Sakha, Eveny, Evenki, Yukagiry, and other Yakutian ethnic groups since ancient times.

   Tue-Fri 10:00-17:00, Sat 11:00-16:00

3. See

   National Art Museum

   Национальный художественный музей РС(Я)

   A huge collection of artwork, including works by Yakuts, Russians, international artists from the 16th century through today. The expositions also include a rich collection of traditional Yakut folk arts and crafts.

   Daily 10:00-18:00

4. Do

   The Orto-Doidu Zoo

   Орто-Дойду

   You'll find some 150 types of animals here, beginning with invertebrates and finishing with more charismatic megafauna, including extremely rare Amur tigers, polar bears, and Siberian mountain goats. The core of the exhibition is fauna of the Russian Extreme North and Far East (with good reason, since they're suited to survive the winters!). More needy creatures find home in a sheltered terrarium and aviary. You can get there via bus #202 and the Yakutsk-Pokrovsk marshrutka, both running from the bus station.

5. See

   Underground Laboratory of the Institute of Cryogenics

   Подземная лаборатория Института Мерзлотоведения

   The only museum in the world of natural cryonics. The trip underground is accompanied by detailed lectures (in Russian, naturally) about the essence of this natural phenomenon, and also displays of the preserved exhibits within the natural "freezer." Do not forget to wear very warm clothes!

   Call in advance to schedule a tour

6. See

   Yakutsk Historical and Cultural Museum of the Northern peoples, Em. Yaroslavskovo

   Якутский государственный музей истории и культуры народов Севера им. Ем. Ярославского

   The main museum in the city, with an impressive collection of artifacts from various periods in the history of Yakutsk—beginning with the prehistoric and ending with the events of the 1990s. Of special interest is the rich collection of stuffed wildlife from the North, and one of the world's few complete woolly mammoth skeletons.

   Daily 10:00-17:00·Free

7. Eat Not mapped

   Chochur Muran

   Чочур Муран

   A restaurant just outside the city in a picturesque location in a tower of the on-site replica of the Lensky Fort. Chochur Muran specializes in Yakut fish dishes. The ambiance is nice, with a Yakut mini-museum, dog-sledding and snowmobiling outside in the winter, and ice sculptures.

   Daily 12:00-00:00·RUB 600-2000

8. See Not mapped

   The Lena-Friendship Historical-Architectural Museum-preserve

   Ленский историко-архитектурный музей-заповедник

   The museum is on the right bank of the Lena River, right on the spot of the fort that led to the creation of Yakutsk. The principal attractions in the museum are outside—reproductions of the Spassky Church of the Zashiversky Fort and the boat of Peter Beketov (the founder of the fort). No less impressive are the old examples of the architecture of the peoples of Yakutia. Inside the exhibited buildings you'll find expositions dedicated to the cultures and daily life of the peoples of Yakutia: clothing, worship, weapons, burial complexes, arts, etc. In the museum you can also try the food at a restaurant specializing in Yakut cuisine. In the spring there are folk festivals. One of the most memorable sights of the preserve is the observation on top of the nearest hill, from which opens a breathtaking view of the Lena River.

9. See Not mapped

   The Old City

   Старый город

   The Old City, reconstructed in the architectural style of the 19th century, is in the very center of Yakutsk, and is bordered by the streets Ammosov, Arzhakov, and the Plaza of the Fallen Soldiers (Аммосова, Аржакова, плошадь Павших бойцов). The streets are off limits to traffic, paved as they are with wooden billets, and there are cafeterias, markets, all in the city's favorite place to relax. Here you'll find the restored Preobrazhenskaya Church, the founders monument, the memorial to fallen soldiers, a stone column dedicated to the 375th year anniversary of Yakutia joining the Russian Empire, and the M.K. Ammosov museum (Ammosov was a prominent Yakut political activist who led an active role in bringing Soviet power to Siberia).

10. See Not mapped

    Art Gallery

    Арт-галерея

    Tue-Sat 11:00-18:00·RUB 20

11. See Not mapped

    Government Literature Museum, P.A. Oiyunskovo

    Государственный литературный музей иь. П.А. Ойунского

    ul. Oktyabrskaya, 10

    Tue-Sat 10:00-17:00

12. See Not mapped

    House-Museum of the Political History of Yakutia

    Дом-музей

    Closed for renovations as of July 2017.

13. See Not mapped

    International Museum of Khomus Music

    Международный музей хомусной (варганной) музыки

    The Khomus is a traditional Yakut mouth harp.

14. See Not mapped

    Memorial House-Museum of Maksim Ammosov

    Мемориальный дом-музей Максима Аммосова

    ul. Ammosova, 3/4

    Wed-Sun 10:00-17:00

15. See Not mapped

    Museum of Music and Folklore of the People of Yakutia

    Музей фольклора народов Якутии

    ul. Kirova, 31

    Tue-Sat 10:00-17:30

16. See Not mapped

    Numismatic Museum of the Yakutsk State University

    Нумизматический музей ЯГУ

    pr. Lenina, 1

    Mon-Fri 10:00-14:00·RUB 10

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Yakutsk (CC BY-SA 4.0).