Vitebsk Regional Museum of Local History

The museum was founded on 12 November 1918 by the decision of Vitebsk provincial departament of national education. It was opened for visitors in May 1919 in a building of the former theological seminary. Since 1924, the museum has placed its first expositions in the building of the former Town hall.

Today, the museum has several branches: the Art Museum, Museum-Manor of I. E. Repin "Zdravnyova", Museum of the history of private collections, Separate exposition "In Memory of the Patriots of Vitebsk Region 1941-1945" in the former prison of security service.

There are several expositions in the Town hall: "Nature of the Vitebsk Region", "Ancient Vitebsk in the 9th — 14th centuries", "Defenders of Homeland".

The Belarusian and Russian painting, graphic and sculptural works, including works of art of the representatives of the Vitebsk art school and its founder Yu. Pan are presented in expositions of the Art museum.

The museum of private collections shows objects from the collection of I. D. Galkevich.

Each year the museum attracts more than 150,000 people. Today, there are more than 200,000 items in the museum collections. Among them there are materials of archeological excavations in the Vitebsk Region, including the brich-bark scroll of the 13th century and the Viking`s sword of the 10th century, separate items and collections of numismatics, faleristics, old printed books, porcelain and weapon of different periods. Among the most interesting objects of everyday life are the silver knightly belt and the clarinet of Jan Sobiesski. Indubitable value has personal collections of historians and regional specialists such as A. Sapunov and V. Fedorovich. The museum actively cooparates with the Belarusian and foreign museums. Recently, the museum particapates in the action "Museum Night", carries out various literary and musical meetings, contests, folk holidays, wedding caremonies, etc.