Mouse Museum, Folk museum in Myshkin, Russia.
The Mouse Museum in Myshkin is an ethnographic museum housed in a wooden building near the Volga River, holding a collection of around 2,000 objects all devoted to mice. These objects come from many countries and range from handcrafted figures and folk art pieces to decorative and everyday items.
The museum opened in 1990 and grew out of a local legend in which a mouse saved a prince from a snake. That story is also said to be the origin of the town's name, since "mysh" means mouse in Russian.
The collection features mice made from clay, glass, wood, metal, and many other materials, brought together from dozens of countries. Each object reflects the craft traditions of its place of origin, showing how differently this small animal is portrayed across cultures.
The museum sits in the center of Myshkin, close to other museums in town, so several visits can be combined in a single day. The town is easy to reach from the Volga, as it is a regular stop for river cruise boats.
Myshkin holds a major celebration every time the Year of the Rat comes around in the Chinese calendar, drawing visitors from across Russia. The 2008 gathering became especially well known after a senior government official attended the festivities.
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