The centuries-old and eventful history of Irkutsk, its location near unique Lake Baikal, as well as its ancient wooden architecture and historical cultural monuments make this city one of the brightest tourist attractions in Russia. Here is an introduction into the largest cultural museums of Eastern Siberia that you will find on your Irkutsk and Baikal tour.

 

The Irkutsk Regional Museum of Local Lore
This is one of the largest museums in Russia and the oldest museum in Siberia. It was founded back in 1782 and financed by local merchants. It presents materials from expeditions to the Asian part of Russia carried out by outstanding researchers, members of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Geographical Society.

In addition to the History Department, the Museum has a few other departments housed in separate buildings. Among them is the Nature Department with extensive paleontological, geological and zoological collections; the Exposition Department "Window to Asia", dedicated to the development of Siberia, Exhibition Department "Museum Studio", the Children's Museum, which tells about the history of toys and the history of education in Irkutsk, and Irkutsk Library.
Today the museum's funds number about 450 thousand exhibits, reflecting the millennial history of the nature and society development not only in the Irkutsk Region, but in all of Eastern Siberia and the bordering areas.
Where: 2, Karl Marx Street, Irkutsk.

V.P. Sukachev Irkutsk Regional Art Museum
This is a delightful treasure trove of fine art of the entire eastern part of Russia. One of the oldest art museums in Russia, the V.P. Sukachev Irkutsk Regional Art Museum boasts one of the largest fine art collections in Eastern Siberia. It was founded in the late XIX century. Today, the museum exposition is housed in several historical and architectural monuments in the center of Irkutsk.

Visitors to the museum will see the oldest monuments of Baikal culture, ancient icons and wooden sculptures by Siberian masters, paintings by great Russian artists (Ivan Shishkin, Ilya Repin, Viktor Surikov, Vassily Polenov and others), paintings by foreign artists, art of the XX century, works by outstanding Irkutsk artists, and much more. The museum galleries regularly hold interesting thematic exhibitions. 

Address: 5, Lenin Street, Irkutsk.

The Baikal Museum of the Irkutsk Scientific Center
Irkutsk is located on the banks of the Angara River, the only river flowing from Lake Baikal, which is only 66 km away from the city. At the 60 kilometer distance from Irkutsk, in the Village of Listvyanka, there is a unique museum dedicated to the legendary Lake Baikal. Founded by the Limnological Research Institute in 1993, the Baikal Museum is the only limnological museum in Russia and one of the most interesting museums of the Baikal area. Its most interesting expositions tell about the history of Baikal studies, its flora, fauna, geology and geomorphology.
Of particular interest are the museum aquariums that display several dozen species of fish and real seals found in Lake Baikal. On top of all, here you can make a VR dive to the bottom of Lake Baikal, look with microscope at the smallest creatures inhabiting the unique lake, and stroll through the arboretum of rare Baikal plants.
Address: 1, Academicheskaya Street, Listvyanka Settlement, Irkutsk Region.  

Irkutsk Architectural and Ethnographic Museum "Taltsy"
It is located 47 kilometers away from Irkutsk on the way to Baikal, on the bank of River Angara.
The Taltsy Museum presents historical and cultural zones of the four peoples of the Baikal area: the Russians, Buryats, Ewenkis and Tofs. Each of them tells about the peculiarities of these peoples’ household. For example, you can see a realistic picture of how they lived when visiting the local complex of ancient manors, churches, a prison, and a church school.
Where: 22A, Gryaznov Street, Irkutsk.

Icebreaker "Angara"
Ship Museums are available in several Russian cities. The museum ship in Irkutsk is truly unique. This is the only one of the first pre-revolutionary ferry-icebreakers that has come down to us.

"Angara" was constructed at the end of the XIX century and served till the middle of the XX century: it carried passengers during the Civil War and even participated in the battles of those years. Later on it served as a cargo ship during the Great Patriotic War. The documents, photographs, personal belongings of the crew members collected here tell about the history of navigation on Lake Baikal and the life story of the ship itself.
Address: Marshal Zhukov Avenue, 36A/1
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