Biysk Museum of Local Lore named after V.V. Bianchi

Most valuable (unique) collections:

1. Archaeology from the Paleolithic to the Middle Ages, a unique collection of petroglyphs from the Neolithic and Bronze Age in Altai.
2. Collection of skulls of bison, mammoths, flora and fauna, rare minerals of the Altai Mountains.
3. Numismatic collection.
4. Chinese porcelain of the Qing Dynasty, 18th–19th centuries.
5. Buddhist sculpture – "Sacred Images of Tibet".
6. Collection of weapons from the 14th–20th centuries, an original lock from one of the main doors of the Reichstag.
7. Ethnography of the Kumandins.
8. Shamanism of Altai – a unique collection of sacred objects of Altai shamans.

The History Department is represented by the largest number of expositions, covering various historical periods from the Ancient history of Altai to the present day. In the history department, you can see a sarcophagus, a cauldron, weapons from Scythian mounds, cult objects of Altai shamans; original art of ancient artistic cast iron, Buddhist sculpture; collections of clocks and samovars; unique examples of cold and firearms, including an infantry flintlock rifle of the 1808 model, produced at the Izhevsk arms factory in 1824. Of unique scientific importance are the collections of the Neolithic, the Bronze Age and early nomads, the Pazyryk culture of the Scythians and the ethnography of the Kumandins, the wooden lace of house carving and the art of the East. The best collection of wood carving in Siberia has been assembled. You will be told the true story of Belovodye and the mysterious Shambhala, which N. Roerich sought in the Altai mountains. As well as the history of the development of Southern Siberia by the Cossacks, and the creation of the Bikatunsky ostrog, from which Biysk began, now proudly bearing the title of Science City. The collection of Altai petroglyphs has more than 300 paintings from different eras, various plots, diverse styles and techniques. And the main exhibit of the museum is a unique Art Nouveau building, built by the best architect of Siberia K.K. Lygin for N.I. Assanov, who was the first of the Siberian merchants to become a corresponding member of the Imperial Academy of Sciences back in 1901.

Currently, the Museum of the Chuysky Tract has five exhibition halls:

• The Chuysky Tract – a road of millennia;
• Natural zones of the Chuysky Tract;
• Memorial cabinet of Vitaly Bianchi;
• Surveys and construction of the Chuysky Tract;
• Motorization of the Chuysky Tract.

In the museum's exposition, the following exhibits arouse the greatest interest among visitors: a unique relief model of the road, made in 1992 by the artist S. Dulepinsky. The map "Nature of the Altai Krai: objects subject to protection," made by the graphic artist V.K. Zaborsky in 1964. Dioramas by artists Yuri and Pavel Korobeynikov, conveying the beauty of the Chuysky Tract. The leveling instrument of the writer and surveyor V.Ya. Shishkov. A monument to the hero of the song – Kolka Snegiryov, as a collective image of all the drivers of the Chuysky Tract.

Excursions

History Department "Assanov's Estate" offers:

• Overview tour of the museum's expositions;
• City tour "Through the streets of old Biysk". During the tour, participants will get acquainted with all the sights of the ancient merchant city and learn about its glorious history.
• Thematic excursion "Features of the architecture of the Assanovs' estate". Museum staff will introduce the history of the merchant's estate, guide visitors through all corners of the old estate, including the basement, and visitors will be able to go out onto the balcony, visit the gazebo in the inner courtyard of the estate—in short, take a real journey into the past through the example of one merchant's house.

"Museum of the Chuysky Tract" Department offers:

• Overview tour of the museum's expositions;
• Thematic excursion "The Road of Millennia". An introduction to the history of the development of the Chuysky Tract from a pack trail to the modern R-256 highway with a video screening.
• Thematic excursion "One of the most beautiful roads in the world...". During the excursion, visitors will take a virtual journey along one of the most beautiful roads in the world – the Chuysky Tract.

Art Department "Exhibition Hall" offers:

• Overview tour of the museum's temporary exhibitions.

Lectures

History Department "Assanov's Estate" offers:

1. "Foundations of Christianity and Buddhism". The lecture is intended for senior high school students and university students. During the lecture, participants will not only learn about the foundations of these two world religions but will also be able to see real artifacts that characterize them. These include Buddhist sculptures and cast Orthodox icons.
2. "Traditional beliefs of the indigenous population of Altai". Using the example of unique exhibits from the museum's shamanic and Buddhist collections, lecture participants will learn about the traditional beliefs and religions of the northern and southern Altaians – the indigenous inhabitants of this region.
3. "Military art of the Turks". Using artifacts from the museum's archaeological collection, tour participants will learn about the armament of medieval nomads of Altai, their methods, and tactics of warfare.
4. Thematic lecture "Petroglyphs – witnesses of ancient cultures". Based on the museum's rich collection of estampages of Altai petroglyphs, lecture participants will be able to learn about the worldview, mythology, and cultural features of the ancient inhabitants of Altai during the Bronze and Iron Ages.
5. "Biysk residents – participants of the war of 1812". Based on the exhibition stands and artifacts of the "Ostrog, Fortress, City" exposition, lecture participants will be able to learn about the life and heroic deeds of such remarkable people as A.A. Skalon, P. Ivlev, General D.A. Kislovsky, and many other heroes of that distant war, whose lives, in one way or another, intersected with the history of the Biysk fortress.
6. "Biysk residents – participants of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945". Lecture participants will be able to learn about the heroic deeds of our fellow countrymen – veterans of the Second World War, and learn about the history of Biysk during the Great Patriotic War.

"Museum of the Chuysky Tract" Department offers:

1. "History of the construction of the Chuysky Tract in the 19th-20th centuries". During the lecture, the following issues will be covered: the importance of the Chuysky Tract as a trade route; surveys at the end of the 19th century; construction of a wheeled road at the beginning of the 20th century; construction of a motor road (1920s–1930s); road works on the Chuysky Tract in the second half of the 20th century.

Art Department "Exhibition Hall" offers:

1. "The image of the native city in the paintings of Biysk artists". The lecture aims to awaken interest and love for the native city through works of art. During the lecture, the audience is introduced to authentic works by local artists dedicated to the city of Biysk from the funds of the museum's art department. Analysis and description of paintings and graphic works by Biysk artists: Ponomarev N.A., Ibragimov Z.M., Pribytkov G.I., Korobeynikov Yu.P., and others.
2. "Socialist realism in Soviet fine art". The lecture gives an idea of socialist realism as the main direction of Soviet art on the example of works of painting, graphics, and sculpture from the second half of the 20th century from the stock collections of the art department of the Biysk Museum of Local Lore; introduces the main principles of socialist realism in Soviet fine art and the views of our contemporaries on this socialist realism.
3. "The work of Dmitry Ivanovich Kuznetsov, a Biysk artist, teacher, and singer of the nature of the Altai Mountains". During the lecture, the audience is introduced to the main stages of the artist's work using his authentic works. The story of the formation of his work as an artist (communication and joint plein-airs with the Altai artist G.I. Choros-Gurkin).
4. "The collection of Soviet porcelain in the funds of the Biysk Museum of Local Lore named after V. Bianchi". An introduction to the collection of Soviet porcelain from the funds of the art department of the Biysk Museum of Local Lore. The collection mainly presents porcelain figurines on everyday themes, as well as works of the animalistic genre.

The museum and its departments offer various programs, which can be viewed on the official museum website.

The price list for paid services can be found on the official museum page.