Chausy District Museum of History and Local Lore: a Journey into the Past

The history of its foundation

The idea of establishing the museum emerged in the late 1980s. The initiative belonged to Honored Teacher of the BSSR Grigory Fyodorovich Samoilov, who, together with like-minded people, began collecting the first exhibits. Local residents also played an important role: veterans, artists, local historians, and elders – each contributed a part of their past to the future museum collection.

The official decision to create the museum was made in April 1990. The first director was Pyotr Mikhailovich Syrodoev. A few years later, the museum moved into its current home – a historic brick building dating back to 1902. The building itself is a monument of history, as it once housed the district executive committee, a local newspaper office, and a printing house.

Exhibitions and collections

Today, the museum features nine halls, each dedicated to a specific period or theme:

• Nature of the native land and underwater world of rivers;
   
• Archaeology and the ancient history of the Chausy district;
   
• Ethnography – traditional life, costumes, and crafts;
   
• The district during the Great Patriotic War;
   
• Post-war development and modern life of the Chausy region.

Special attention is given to local figures of whom the district is proud. Among them are Hero of the Soviet Union Colonel Lev Manevich, outstanding ethnographer Ivan Nosovich, the first female Doctor of Medical Sciences in Russia V. A. Kashevarova-Rudneva, and modern biathlete Sergey Novikov, silver medalist of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.

The museum’s collections number more than 12,000 items. Visitors can see archaeological finds, ethnographic artifacts, wartime relics, old documents, and photographs. Among the unique exhibits are army belongings from World War II, collections of medals and insignia, traditional towels and woven fabrics, as well as a camera with the autograph of writer Konstantin Simonov.

Atmosphere and modern projects

The museum is not limited to traditional exhibitions. Temporary displays are regularly organized here: from works by artists and folk craftsmen to exhibitions from the collections of other Belarusian museums. Interactive projects are also popular, such as “Fairy Tales on Pillows” for young children, and special programs for newlyweds that introduce guests to local wedding traditions.

Thanks to these initiatives, the museum has become not only a place for preserving values but also a true cultural center of the district, where dialogue between generations comes alive.

Souvenirs and a memory of Chausy

A special pride of the museum is its Souvenir Shop. Here, visitors can find crafts made by local artisans: wickerwork, pottery, woodcarving, straw products, as well as modern creations – fabric painting and bead weaving. Souvenirs with the symbols of Chausy, magnets, mugs, and handmade works allow you to take a piece of this land with you.

Why you should visit

The Chausy District Museum of History and Local Lore is a place where you can feel the spirit of the Belarusian province, discover rare exhibits, learn about remarkable local figures, and experience a living connection with history. It is an excellent destination for family leisure, educational excursions, and cultural tourism.

The town of Chausy is located only 35 kilometers from Mogilev, which makes adding the museum to your regional travel route a great idea.