The Durov Museum, Circus art museum in Taganrog, Russia

The Durov Museum is dedicated to Russian circus performer Anatoly Durov and occupies an Art Nouveau building from 1900. The collection includes circus equipment, taxidermied animals, photographs, and personal items that document his life and career.

The mansion was built in 1900 and belonged to the priest G. F. Potseluev until 1915, then to A. I. Tsarenko and before the revolution to Olga Mironosnichenko, sister of Chekhov's friend Sasha Selivanova. Nationalized in 1920, it was bought in 1926 by trainer Anatoly Durov, who moved here with his family and animals and died in Izhevsk in 1928. The Durov exposition opened in 1987, and the building was restored in 1988.

The museum conveys Durov's world through props and staged scenes that highlight the bond between trainer and animal. The rooms give a sense of how these performances captivated audiences in the early 1900s.

The museum is reachable on foot from the city center and located in a quiet residential area. Most visitors need about 1 to 2 hours to explore the full exhibition.

In the "Kino" hall, film footage of Durov's 1920s attraction "Cabaret" is shown, and the museum keeps more than 40 stuffed exotic animals and birds plus authentic posters such as "Kangaroo Boxer" and "Dog's Wedding".