Kimry: Local History Museum, Churches and Theatre

• The permanent exhibition at the local history museum opened on 6 July 1990; its focus is a collection of shoes from the 19th and 20th centuries.
• An archaeological collection explores life in the Kimry area during the Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages.
• The Church of the Ascension in the Zarechye district was built in 1813, and the Transfiguration Cathedral in Kimry in 1911.
• The theatre repertoire includes evening performances for adults and children’s plays for young audiences and their parents.

The permanent exhibition at the Kimry Local History Museum opened on 6 July 1990. Its focus is a collection of shoes from the 19th and 20th centuries. An archaeological collection alongside it explores life in the Kimry area during the Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages. Different periods are thus brought together, from a collection of historical shoes to the early periods of regional history.

The interiors and objects described also offer different perspectives. The exhibits include the dining room of a wealthy farmer from the late 19th century and an Art Nouveau living room from the early 20th century. Antique furniture, tableware, clothing and photographs from the early 20th century complete the collection. Together, these objects offer glimpses into the living spaces and everyday items of the time.

Other exhibits include wooden sculptures made for the museum in the 1930s by self-taught carver Ivan Mikhailovich Abalyaev. A separate exhibition hall is devoted to numerous materials about the Great Patriotic War and Kimry residents who fought at the fronts. A memorial hall honours aircraft designer Andrei Nikolayevich Tupolev.

In 2017, the interactive exhibition “Stolitsa sapozhnogo tsarstva” (“Capital of the Shoemaking Kingdom”) opened. Its concept includes a recreated street in old Kimry and a bazaar where visitors are expected to haggle. It also includes visits to a Kimry shoemaker and a wealthy merchant. These offer different ways to explore the subject: the shoe collection focuses on historical objects, while the interactive exhibition incorporates scenes from old Kimry.

The dates refer to two different exhibitions: the permanent exhibition opened in 1990, and the interactive exhibition in 2017. This distinguishes the history of the museum displays from the historical subjects they cover.

The Church of the Ascension in the Zarechye district was built in 1813. The Transfiguration Cathedral in Kimry dates from 1911. The two construction dates are 98 years apart—a clear chronological difference that can be noted without making further assumptions about the buildings’ history. The Zarechye district is also explicitly named to help locate the Church of the Ascension.

The repertoire of the Kimry Drama and Comedy Theatre includes evening performances for adults and children’s plays for the youngest audiences and their parents. It therefore features both productions for adult audiences and shows for young spectators. Individual productions and performance dates change, so check the current programme before visiting.

Discover more destinations: Sukhoy Ruchey, Moscow, Bely Gorodok, Biryuchyovo, Shcherbinino, Nagovye, Zhirnosovo, Zelenyy Bor.

Which collection is the focus of the permanent exhibition?

The central exhibit is a collection of shoes from the 19th and 20th centuries. The archaeological collection also explores life in the Kimry area during the Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages.

What construction dates are given for the two churches?

The Church of the Ascension in the Zarechye district was built in 1813; the Transfiguration Cathedral dates from 1911.

Does the theatre also stage plays for younger audiences?

Yes. The repertoire includes children’s plays for the youngest audiences and their parents. Since individual productions and performance dates change, it is advisable to check the current programme.

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