The Kurmangazy District Museum, which tells the story of the past and present of the sacred Kurmangazy land, collects, researches, and studies our spiritual heritage and presents it to the people. It was first established in 1963 as a school-based museum corner on a voluntary basis.
Later, by order of the Ministry of Culture of the Kazakh SSR dated May 26, 1982, No. 191, the museum was reorganized into the Kurmangazy District Branch of the Atyrau Regional Museum of History and Local Lore.
The total area of the museum building is 176.58 square meters.
The museum’s exhibits, reflecting the history of the district, its economy, culture and art, and wildlife, are presented in four thematic sections:
- «History of the Region from the 2nd Century BC to the First Half of the 20th Century»
- «Ethnography and Nature»,
- «History of the District 1918–1990»,
- «Culture and Literature of the Region” — exhibition halls open to visitors.
The museum’s collections include archaeological, household, and ethnographic materials, numismatics, rare manuscripts, historical documents and photographs, weapons, and taxidermied animals and birds, representing material and spiritual values from ancient times to the present.
Also preserved are photographs of historical figures originating from the district, documents from their lives, materials on the outstanding contributions of notable individuals to the development of the district, archives reflecting significant achievements in health care and public education, as well as collections of jewelry.
The main activities of the museum are the collection, registration, and preservation of exhibits, as well as exhibition and educational work.
The museum’s collection, numbering 11,950 exhibits, includes numerous collections reflecting the heritage of the region. The collected items are not only preserved but also represent important material and spiritual values that are studied, popularized, and used as a means of education and enlightenment.
