The history of Barnaul’s musical culture spans about three centuries.
In 1776, the Opera House was established in Barnaul, with its performances accompanied by an orchestra. In 1792, the first music school opened its doors. The traveler and researcher Pyotr Semyonov-Tyan-Shansky, who visited the city in 1856, called Barnaul “the cultural center of Siberia” and nicknamed it “Siberian Athens”.
“The Music Ark” presents the biggest milestones in Barnaul’s musical history, its important events, and its greatest personalities. With the help of the interactive guide, visitors can learn more about the museum’s exhibits.
These include the rebuilt authentic musical instruments, such as ikili, topshuur, shoor, and shamanic drum; 19th-century pianos and pump organs built both in Russia and abroad; old gramophones; photos of famous Altai musicians, composers, and musical instrument restorers.
Exhibits are marked with AR stickers for identification purposes.