Museum of Almaty

The Museum of Almaty is housed in a wooden building with ornately carved details and displays more than 40,000 objects across 11 exhibitions arranged in chronological order. The collections trace the region's story from ancient periods to the present day.

The building was originally constructed in 1878 and reconstructed in 1892 by architect P. Gurdae, initially serving as an orphanage for many years. It held this function until the start of the 21st century, when it was converted into the current museum.

The museum shows how different peoples shaped this city over centuries and what mattered to them in their daily lives. Visitors can see how communities built and developed this place through various periods.

The interior features interactive displays with video projections and holographic representations to help explain the objects on view. Visitors should allow enough time to move through the different chronological sections at a comfortable pace.

The façade displays a rare symmetrical structure with original carved wood details that have been preserved since the building gained monument status in 2010. This architectural feature makes the structure itself as important as the collections inside.