The Polotsk Local History Museum is one of the oldest museums in Belarus. Its collections began to take shape in 1919. Initially, the exhibition was housed in the St. Sophia Cathedral in Polotsk, but in 1930, it was moved to the building of the Lutheran Church of St. Mary on Nizhne-Pokrovskaya Street. The church building is also an architectural landmark of Polotsk.
This museum is an important cultural center, featuring exhibits that tell the rich history of Polotsk, one of the oldest cities in Eastern Europe. Many highly valuable museum artifacts (ancient manuscripts, icons, church utensils), which were not evacuated in 1941, fell into German-occupied territory and disappeared during the war.
After the WWII, the building of the church first housed a cinema, then a granary, but in 1948, the Polotsk Local History Museum was reopened there. Despite the reconstructions, the building of the Lutheran Church of St. Mary has retained its neo-Gothic appearance. This church was built in 1888 for the German Protestant community.
The main exhibitions of the Polotsk Local History Museum include:
1. Archaeological Finds: The museum displays artifacts discovered during excavations in Polotsk. Among them are household items, weapons, jewelry, and tools dating back to the early Middle Ages.
2. History of the Polotsk Principality: The exhibition tells of the times when Polotsk was the center of a powerful principality. Here, visitors can see models of ancient fortifications, reconstructions of costumes and weapons, and learn about the lives of princes such as Vseslav Bryacheslavich.
3. The Era of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth: The museum presents materials related to the period when Polotsk was part of these states. Special attention is given to the role of the Jesuits in the development of education and culture.
4. Polotsk as Part of the Russian Empire: The exhibition covers the 19th to early 20th centuries, when Polotsk became part of the Russian Empire. Here, visitors can see documents, photographs, and household items from that time.
5. Nature of the Polotsk Region: The museum also offers an exhibition dedicated to the flora and fauna of the region. It features animal specimens, herbariums, and geological samples.
6. Modern History: The museum has a section devoted to the events of the 20th century, including the Great Patriotic War.
