Tashkent – museums and theaters

Tashkent – museums and theaters

State Museum of Timurid History

The State Museum of Timurid History, erected on the initiative of the first President I. A. Karimov for the 660th anniversary of Amir Temur, was opened in the center of Tashkent on October 18, 1996. The structure with a dome in the style of famous architectural monuments immediately catches the eye and attracts attention.

The interior is richly decorated with marble, unique painting, gold leaf. On the walls of the halls, a fresco depicts the life of Tamerlane, as well as paintings that convey the atmosphere of those times. The highlight of the museum is a crystal chandelier 8.5 meters high, which includes 106,000 pendants.

The exhibits of the museum tell visitors about the history of Uzbekistan during the reign of the Timurid dynasty. The museum has over 3,000 exhibits. Here you can see jewelry, clothing, musical instruments, tools and other items from the Middle Ages. The central hall contains a copy of the Osman Koran – the holy book of Muslims.

The exposition of the museum also includes numerous correspondences of Tamerlane and his descendants with the monarchs of European countries, various miniatures and models of famous monuments built by the Timurid dynasty. State Museum of History of Uzbekistan.

State Museum of History of Uzbekistan

For several millennia since the early Paleolithic, the history of the country has been formed from individuals and nationalities, from brutal conquests and large-scale uprisings, from the fall of empires and their rise. For centuries, people lived on the territory of the interfluve, building the largest cities. Comfortable settlements in picturesque oases attracted numerous conquerors who brought their people to these lands. This is how the rich history of the Uzbek people developed.

The museum was founded in 1876 and was called the "People's Museum of Turkestan" and was located in a four-story building, which has an original shape and layout in the form of a large cube. The State Museum of the History of Uzbekistan has managed to assemble a unique collection of 250 thousand items, demonstrating all stages of the cultural heritage.

An exhibition gallery is located on the first floor of the museum. On the second floor, there are relics of the Paleolithic era, artifacts of the ancient world and the early Middle Ages, valuable finds from the Timurid period. Among the main treasures: tools, the skeleton of an ancient man (1.5 million years BC), a bronze cauldron with animal figurines, a triad with the image of Buddha and monks (1st century AD), various items related to the Great Caravan Silk Road. The third floor conveys the era of the three khanates dominating the territory of modern Uzbekistan and other republics of Central Asia. The fourth floor contains expositions and models of the XIX-XXI centuries, demonstrating the industrial, economic and sports achievements of the country.

The museum has a souvenir shop selling national-style souvenirs and unusual wonders from ceramics, textiles, miniatures and much more.

State Museum of Nature of Uzbekistan

The State Museum of Nature of Uzbekistan was opened in 1876 and since then the museum has been replenished with exhibits from the world of animals and plants. Currently, the museum's fund contains more than 400 thousand units of zoological and geological materials.

Perhaps the most unusual and unique exhibits are the remains of mammoths, various animal mutants, embryos, as well as birds and animals on the verge of complete extinction.

In order to convey the relationship in nature as clearly as possible, the museum uses the landscape method in depicting expositions. Such a method visualizes the ecosystem, natural landscape, animals, trees and even the solar system with a detailed description with the smallest details and accuracy.

Museum of Arts of Uzbekistan

The State Museum of Arts of Uzbekistan was founded in 1918. From the moment of its foundation until 1935, the museum was located in the former residence of Prince N. Romanov, then moved to the building of the People's House. In 1974, a modern building of the museum was built, which has an uncomplicated square volume.

The exposition of the museum presents works by Uzbek, Russian and Western European artists, including collections of Italian, French and German paintings of the medieval era. These are such paintings as: "Falconry" by N.N. Karazin, "Yard" by Z.M. Kovalevskaya, "Bather" by A.F. Belloli, etc.

Museum of Applied Arts of Uzbekistan

In order to learn about the history of handicraft art and see its masterpieces, visit the Museum of Applied Arts.

The museum was opened in 1927 as an exhibition of works of artisans from our country and was called the "Museum of Handicrafts". In 1977, he received the status of a state and was transformed into a presently existing museum.

The museum's fund contains more than 7 thousand of the best works of masters from the beginning of the 19th century to our time, including: ceramics, jewelry, gold embroidery, national clothing, suzane, carpets, skullcaps, miniatures and wood painting, porcelain, musical instruments, etc. much more.

Geological Museum of Uzbekistan

The first exhibit, which is in the museum, is located in a small courtyard. Traces of pterodactyls are carved on medium-sized stones.

The museum consists of 12 rooms dedicated to topics on paleontology, mineralogy, ancient mining, the history of geology and geological research. The exposition contains more than 40 thousand different exhibits.

Here you can explore exhibitions on the origin of life on earth. In the hall of paleontology, fossils of ancient mollusks, various fossil remains of organisms and traces of their vital activity, the remains of various invertebrates, ancient elephants (their teeth and vertebrae), plant remains found on the territory of Uzbekistan are presented.

Samples of stones and minerals mined in Uzbekistan are presented. In the main hall, precious stones rotate and illuminate on the stands.

Museum of Islam Karimov

The Museum of the Scientific and Educational Memorial Complex named after Islam Karimov (formerly called "Oqsaroy Residence" – White Palace) is dedicated to the life of the first President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, where Islam Karimov once worked and conducted political activities. Here, in addition to the museum, there is a library and a reading room, a science center and a conference room. The museum is surrounded by a picturesque garden with flower beds and paths.

A bronze monument to Islam Karimov rises on a high pedestal in front of the palace. The first hall of the museum contains photographs, documents and personal items of the president. The second room contains an art collection depicting Islam Karimov. Curiously, the president himself never posed for artists and photographers. The museum also has smart screens. With their help, you can get acquainted with interesting facts from the life of the president.

Museum of Literature named after Alisher Navoi

The State Museum of Literature named after Alisher Navoi was founded in 1939. This is one of the largest scientific and educational institutions in Uzbekistan. The monuments of the literary heritage of the Uzbek people are kept here.

The fund of the museum contains more than 65 thousand documents about the life and work of the writers of our country.

There are also more than 17 thousand exhibits: works of art, manuscripts, documents, films, archaeological sites reflecting the centuries-old history of Uzbek culture and literature.

National Library of Uzbekistan named after Alisher Navoi

The largest repository of manuscripts and printed publications of the country is the National Library of Uzbekistan named after Alisher Navoi. The library's collection contains the world's largest collection of works in the Uzbek language.

The library was founded in 1870. Governor-General of Turkestan Konstantin Petrovich Kaufman ordered the creation of the Tashkent Public Library. To collect the first editions of the library, a Russian scientist, bibliographer V. I. Mezhov was involved. These were mainly publications about the history of the Turkestan Territory, which later formed the basis of the multivolume book Turkestan Collection. These publications are kept in the library to this day.

Over the years, the library has undergone great changes. This is the closure of the institution by order of the Governor-General of Turkestan Mikhail Grigorievich Chernyaev in 1882, and the distribution of publications to various organizations. But nevertheless, in spite of everything, most of the library's fund was preserved thanks to the Supervisory Committee, created in 1883. It included famous scientists, historians, and teachers. In 1920, the library received the status of "State".

The library received its modern name in February 2020 after the merger of the Republican Scientific and Technical Library and the State Library of the Republic of Uzbekistan named after Alisher Navoi.

Bolshoi Theater named after Alisher Navoi

The State Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater named after Alisher Navoi was founded in June 1939. This is one of the leading theaters in Uzbekistan with a rich history.

The theater building is located in the center of Tashkent. The area around the theater is decorated with a fountain and decorative trees. The capacity of the auditorium (stalls and two tiers) is up to 1,440 people.

In 1929, amateurs of the concert and ethnographic ensemble under the leadership of the People's Artist of Uzbekistan Mukhiddin Kari-Yakubov created a professional theater, the dance group of which was headed by the famous Tamara Khanum. In 1939, the first opera "Buran" won success with audiences and critics, after which operas were staged – "Eugene Onegin", "Gulsara", ballets – "Coppelia", "Red Poppy", "Don Quixote", "Ballerina".

Among the international projects of the theater, the organization of such events as: the festival of opera and ballet "Tashkent Bahori", the Festival in honor of the 150th anniversary of G. Puccini, participation in foreign productions of opera performances "The Tsar's Bride", "Love Drink", "Bohemia" and many others interesting projects.

You can get acquainted with the modern repertoire of the theater on the website https://gabt.uz

Residence of Prince Romanov

The residence of Prince Nikolai Konstantinovich Romanov was built in 1891 from the best bricks of that time. The prince contributed to the construction of the first cinema, a bakery, a small district for the prince's soldiers, and a network of irrigation canals. He was very much loved in Tashkent, because he paid a lot of attention to the residents of the capital.

During his life in Tashkent, Nikolai Konstantinovich collected a unique collection of paintings by famous artists, antiques and books that he bequeathed to the city. After his death, the palace became an art museum, and later it was made a museum of antiques and jewelry.

Now the building is used as the Reception House of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, but soon it is planned to open for visiting and make it a museum.

Tashkent – monuments of our time
Tashkent – historical monuments
Tashkent – mosques, churches
Tashkent – parks, squares, gardens
Samarkand – the crossroads of cultures
Bukhara – ancient and eternal
Khiva – a time portal to the past
Khorezm – country of a thousand fortresses