Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan — Attraction in Almaty

From official site:

The Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan is one of the oldest and largest museums not only in Kazakhstan, but also the entire Central Asian region. The collections of the museum include about 300 thousand objects. Currently, the museum has seven main stationary halls. Diverse collection provides a good picture of the paleontological past, of the ancient, medieval, modern and contemporary history and cultural tradition of Kazakhstan. The creation of museum collections was initiated in the 30s of the 19th century in Orenburg, at Neplyuev Military School "Museum of the Orenburg region". One of the organizers was a famous linguist, author of "Explanatory Dictionary" Vladimir Dal. In different years the museum collection composed not only the museum collection of the Orenburg region (1924), but also the Zhetysu (Semirechye) Regional Museum (1929) and the National anti-religious museum (1941) which was placed in the building of the Voznesenski Cathedral in Alma-Ata city. This unique architectural complex was built in 1904-1907 and designed by the well-knownVerny architect A.P.Zenkov. In 1944 the museum was assigned to the 1st category and received its present name - the Central State Museum of Kazakhstan. This building was constructed by architects Yu.Ratushnyi, Z.Mustafin and B.Rzagaliyev in 1985. It is considered one of the finest buildings of modern architecture of the Almaty city. The total area of the museum building is 17,557 square meters. Among the exhibits there are unique masterpieces: gold articles which reflect cultural tradition of tribes of early nomads of Kazakhstan. Found during excavations in Zhalauly, Pokrovka, Kargaly villages, Shilikty kurgan; collection of Scythian-Saka bronze boilers and altars (connected with the cult of fire and ancestors, made in the tradition of the animal style of Saks), personal seal of S.Toraigyrov, certificate of merit signed by S. Altynsarin, manuscript of Turagul about the father of Abai, the first issue of "Aikap" magazine, rifle of Imanuly, personal complexes of ShokanValihanov, Zhayu Musa, AmreKashaubayev, Alibi Zhangildin, SakenSeifullin, KulyashBaiseitova and others. Great contribution to the formation of the museum's collection made well-known figures of the Kazakh culture, literature and art, scientists, historians, politicians and public figures. Among them A.Baitursynov, A. Zhirenchin, G. Mustafin, K. Badyrov, A.Margulan and many others. At present, the museum is headed by Nursan Alimbay – a well-known scientist-ethnologist in our country and abroad. He is the author of more than three hundred scientific and popular publications, including monographs on various aspects of traditional culture and ethnography of the Kazakhs, folklore and museology. In recent years, with the support of partners of the museum have been implemented ambitious museum projects - exposition complexes: "Open fund. Archaeological gold of Kazakhstan", "Museum of Anthropology", "Hall of N.G. Khludov". For the first time in the museum practice of Kazakhstan have been implemented the projects on creation of a series of scientific reconstructions of costumes and accessories of ancient archetypes - "Andronovo woman of Bronze Age"; "Kangui woman 1st century BC – 4th century AD"; "Kipchak Warrior IX-XI"; "Huns Warrior 2nd – 3rd century AD"; "Hun warrior 5th– 3rd century BC". Since 2008, in the museum launched its activity the Scientific Library, established on the initiative and with direct participation of Nursan Alimbay. During these years, was introduced the program "Museolog" e-cataloging and certification of fund collections, initiated by UNESCO, which is an innovation in museum practice of...

So I’m not a big museum type of guy, but this museum had so many things, and it was so engaging and captivating that I didn’t even notice that were almost 3-4 hours past obviously other people can move a lot faster, but since I was with a group of people like friends, we kept looking at everything and took it slow so it took three or four hours, but the main thing being that there were so many things to look at so many floors that a person had to go through that it just took a while.

In terms of content, there’s everything OK so a quick little fact, the history of Kazakhstan had been passed down via communication meaning that the history up until I think a couple centuries ago or recently honestly wasn’t written down. It was basically a group of people kept passing down information to each other, and they basically relied and trusted the fact that the person wouldn’t pass away or took the risk and that other person Kept all the information inside of them until they moved it onto the next one in line, so why am I saying this meaning that even though most of this wasn’t written down it’s it was still so interesting that there is so much history behind this country obviously, they kept the stuff and written things are only for schools and books, and everything like that, but still the fact that’s not almost nothing was written down until recently. There was so many things to see and learn from in this museum.

One of the best parts was that there was jewelry and gold of all times some of which was, for example from the Persian empire we had to go through this like vault we had to enter it, and it was kind of creepy, but really cool at the same time and we got to see a lot of gold coins and a lot of weapons, so that was one of the highlights. Except for that like I said this museum had so many floors and each floor had so many rooms that a person could just stay in the museum for hours and hours.

So overall, if anyone wants to go to the museum which is located in the old capital of the country and it contains so much valuable information about the country this is definitely a good place. Like I said I’m not a big museum guy, but this was one of the most fun museum experiences that I have ever had so I would definitely recommend...

My visit to the Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan left me utterly mesmerized and deeply appreciative of the rich history and culture preserved within its walls. From the moment I stepped into the museum, I was struck by the stunning architecture that beautifully reflects the essence of Kazakhstan's heritage.

Inside, I was greeted by an impressive array of museum pieces that vividly narrate the story of Kazakhstan's past. I was particularly amazed by the meticulously curated exhibits that showcase the traditions, culture, and language of the Kazakh people. It was heartwarming to see how our Kazakh cousins have preserved their identity through the ages and proudly displayed it for the world to admire.

The archeology hall was a highlight of my visit, where I was transported through time as I explored prehistoric artifacts and learned about the rise and migration of the Turkic people, culminating in the establishment of the ancestral Kazakh states. It was a fascinating journey that deepened my understanding of Kazakhstan's rich historical tapestry.

Upstairs, the artwork on display was simply breathtaking. The way it adorned the walls added another layer of beauty to the museum experience, immersing visitors in the artistic expression of Kazakh culture.

While my experience at the museum was overwhelmingly positive, I couldn't help but notice the language barrier for non-Kazakh speakers. While I found it incredibly easy to communicate with the staff in Turkish, English seemed to be lacking. I believe that by implementing English language signage and ensuring that staff members are proficient in English, the museum could attract even more visitors from around the world, enriching their understanding of Kazakhstan's history and culture.

In conclusion, my visit to the Central State Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan was nothing short of extraordinary. It's a treasure trove of knowledge and a testament to the enduring spirit of the Kazakh people. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to embark on a fascinating journey through time...