Kyrgyzstan is quite possibly one of the few places in the world where the snow leopard—a rare animal listed in the Red Book—can still be seen in the wild. However, encounters between humans and this elusive creature are very rare. On the other hand, a stuffed snow leopard can be seen in several museums across Kyrgyzstan.
Museums in Kyrgyzstan have appeared relatively recently and are generally quite modest. They are far from the vast halls filled with dusty exhibits that one imagines when inspired by visits to the British Museum, the Louvre, the Smithsonian Institution, or other major museums around the world. Many museums in Kyrgyzstan operate under limited budgets; nevertheless, almost each of them can boast unique exhibits.
In Kyrgyzstan, museums do not simply display exhibits. This is just one aspect of their work. Museums in Kyrgyzstan collect, document, and preserve collections of artifacts, samples that have historical, cultural, artistic, and scientific significance, and make them accessible to a wide audience.
From the history of Kyrgyzstan, it is known that the first public collection in Kyrgyzstan was presented in the district library in Tokmak as early as 1870. Later, this example was followed by the People's Libraries in Przhevalsk (now the city of Karakol) in 1902 and in Osh in 1917.
The first real Kyrgyz museum was established in the capital of Kyrgyzstan—Bishkek. This museum was dedicated to the memory of Mikhail Frunze, one of the famous commanders of the Red Army, who commanded the Turkestan Front during the Civil War and the fight against the Basmachi movement. The Frunze Museum opened its doors in 1925. This was followed by the establishment of the Historical Museum, which opened in 1927, and the Museum of Fine Arts in 1934.
Kyrgyzstan, of course, cannot compete with Finland in the number of museums per capita, but the number of such cultural institutions in the country is steadily growing. In 1981, there were only 13 museums in Kyrgyzstan, but by the beginning of the new millennium, the republic had already counted 36 state museums, in addition to private ones.
When in Bishkek, tourists usually visit the Historical Museum, whose massive building is constructed and decorated according to all the canons of Soviet monumental art and is a vivid example of Soviet iconography. A visit to another tourist city, Karakol, would be incomplete without visiting the Przhevalsky Museum, dedicated to the great Russian scientist and traveler, whose research in the early 20th century provided the world with much new information about Asia. In Osh—the southern capital of Kyrgyzstan—the state museum is uniquely located right in the caves of the sacred mountain Suleiman-Too.
Kyrgyzstan also has several open-air museums. In these, exhibits are placed directly at the site of archaeological excavations. Of course, not everyone can make the journey to the distant "stone garden" of Saymaluu-Tash to see ancient petroglyphs, but the collections of artifacts from Burana and Cholpon-Ata are quite accessible to any tourist.
Popular Museums of Kyrgyzstan:
Historical Museums
State Historical Museum of the Kyrgyz Republic (Bishkek)
Museum of History of the Nookat District (Nookat village)
Alay District Historical Museum named after Kurmanzhan Datka (Gulcha village)
Museum of History (Kyzyl-Kiya city)
Suzak District Historical Museum
Tokmok Historical and Local Lore Museum
Karakol Historical and Local Lore Museum
Jalal-Abad Historical and Local Lore Museum
Kochkor Historical and Local Lore Museum
Naryn Regional Historical and Local Lore Museum
Issyk-Kul State Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve
Osh United Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve
Open-Air Museums
Open-Air Sculpture Museum in Dubovyy Park
Open-Air Museum on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul - Ruh Ordo named after Ch. Aitmatov
Memorial Museums
Memorial House-Museum of M.V. Frunze
Kyrgyz National Museum of Fine Arts named after Gapar Aitiev
Apartment Museum of A. Maldybaev
House-Museum of A. Tokombaev
House-Museum of S.A. Chuykov
Museum of Kozhomkul
Memorial House-Museum of O.M. Manuilova
Workshop Museum of S. Chokmorov
Memorial Museum of N.M. Przhevalsky
House-Museum of A. Osmonov
House-Museum of Z. Kainazarova
Memorial Museum of D. Shopokov
Memorial House-Museum of I. Razzkov
Memorial Museum "Ata-Beyit"
Literary Museums
Literary Museum named after Toktogul
Museum of T. Satylganov (Toktogul District)
Museum of Ch. Aitmatov (Talas Region)
Specialized Museums
Zoological Museum at the Biological Faculty of Kyrgyz State University
Archaeological Museum at Kyrgyz-Slavic University
Museum of the National Bank in Bishkek
National Historical and Archaeological Museum Complex "Suleiman-Too"
Geological Museum at the State Agency for Geology
Theater Museum at the State Opera and Ballet Theater
Theater Museum at the State Drama Theater
Theater Museum at the Kyrgyz Philharmonic
Private Museum of Technology and Inventions
Private Museum of Cosmonautics
