Museum of Local Lore | Zaporizhzhia

The Zaporizhzhia Regional Museum of Local Lore (Запорізький обласний краєзнавчий музей) is one of the oldest and most comprehensive museums in southeastern Ukraine, offering deep insight into the natural, cultural, and historical development of the Zaporizhzhia region. It is both an educational center and a guardian of regional memory, preserving the legacy of the area from prehistoric times to the modern day.

📍 Location & Background

Address: 29 Troitska Street, Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine

Founded: 1921

Current Building: Built in 1928; it has been renovated and modernized over the decades.

Total Collection Size: Over 110,000 items

Exhibition Area: 22 permanent exhibition halls

The museum is located in a historic building in the city center and is easily accessible to tourists and locals alike.

🏛️ Main Departments & Exhibits

1. Nature Department

This section introduces visitors to the diverse flora and fauna of the Zaporizhzhia region.

Taxidermy Displays: Birds, mammals, amphibians, and fish native to the steppe and aquatic environments.

Notable Exhibit: A full-sized specimen of the Azovka (a rare Black Sea-Azov dolphin).

Ecological Displays: Dioramas showing steppe landscapes, river ecosystems, and forest-steppe zones.

2. Archaeology Department

One of the museum’s most valuable assets, this department showcases artifacts dating back to the Paleolithic era.

Stone Age to Early Slavs: Tools, ceramics, ornaments from prehistoric cultures.

Scythian Artifacts:

Golden horse headrest with animal motifs (5th century BCE).

Arrowheads, jewelry, and burial items from Scythian barrows.

Voznesenivsky Treasure:

A highlight of the collection: a silver eagle pommel, rare Byzantine coins, and ceremonial objects from the 2nd–8th centuries CE.

Sarmatian and Slavic Exhibits: Reflecting transitions in tribal and early feudal culture.

3. Ethnography and Folk Culture

This department illustrates the cultural diversity of Zaporizhzhia through centuries.

Cossack Heritage:

Weapons, saddles, cannons, uniforms.

Everyday items like dishes, spinning wheels, and clothing from the Zaporizhzhia Sich era.

Ukrainian Peasantry:

19th- and early 20th-century household items, tools, and traditional attire.

Religious Artifacts:

Icons, crosses, liturgical books from Orthodox churches across the region.

4. Modern History Department

18th–Early 20th Century

Founding of modern Zaporizhzhia (formerly Alexandrovsk).

Development of trade, industry, and railways.

Life under the Russian Empire and during the Revolution.

Soviet Period

Industrialization, focusing on the construction of DniproHES (Dnieper Hydroelectric Station), one of the USSR’s key infrastructure projects.

Forced collectivization and repression.

WWII: A full hall dedicated to the Nazi occupation and the liberation of the city.

Artifacts from local soldiers.

Personal items from resistance fighters and war diaries.

Wreckage and weapons from the Eastern Front.

Post-War Period

Reconstruction of the city and expansion of metallurgy.

Development of cultural life and education.

5. Contemporary History – War for Independence

This powerful new exhibition is devoted to recent history and Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression.

Topics Covered:

Euromaidan movement.

The 2014 annexation of Crimea.

Russia’s invasion of eastern Ukraine and the full-scale war from 2022.

Interactive Exhibits:

Projected maps showing battle movements.

Multimedia presentations of civilian experiences and frontline footage.

Artifacts:

Uniforms, weapon fragments, and personal effects from soldiers in units like the Azov Regiment and 55th Artillery Brigade.

Letters and photographs from the front lines.

🛎️ Visitor Services & Accessibility

Guided Tours:

Thematic tour: 130 UAH

General sightseeing tour: 200 UAH

Language: Ukrainian; some guides offer Russian and English upon request.

Accessibility:

Wheelchair-accessible entrances and paths.

Accommodations for visually and hearing-impaired visitors.

Family-friendly with stroller access.

⏰ Opening Hours

Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 09:00–18:00 (last admission at 17:00)

Thursday: 09:00–16:00 (last admission at 15:00)

Saturday: 10:00–19:00 (last admission at 18:00)

Closed: Sunday and Monday

✉️ Contact

Phone: +380 (93) 368-21-80

🧭 Summary

The Zaporizhzhia Regional Museum of Local Lore is a key cultural site for understanding the rich, layered history of southeastern Ukraine. From Scythian gold to Cossack arms and from Soviet industry to contemporary struggles for independence, the museum offers a journey through the identity and resilience of the Zaporizhzhia people. A must-visit for anyone interested in the historical roots and modern evolution of this strategic region.