Museum of Death

Located in the Memory Park of the Novosibirsk Crematorium.
The museum features a unique collection of authentic exhibits and replicas from the 18th century to the present, including:
• over 200 mourning gowns,
• collections of accessories, jewelry, and hairdressing accessories,
• 10,000 paintings, sculptures, lacquer miniatures, enamels, photographs, medals, family heirlooms, musical instruments, models of special vehicles,
• historical monuments, icons, crosses, coffins, urns, memorial items.
Various details of ancient burial culture are shown in narrative installations. Identification of a body in an ancient prosectorium, order acceptance at the funeral office, sewing a mourning dress — all these scenes are played out by realistic mannequins dressed in 19th century clothes in the midst of thoroughly reproduced interiors. Some installations look quite bewildering to our modern sensibilities. For example, a post mortem photo shoot in a studio with the deceased in an “alive” pose and normal interior together with the relatives. The museum is listed under the UNESCO World Heritage Burial Culture program.

Opening hours: Tuesday through Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., closed on Monday