While planning my walks around Tashkent, I was surprised to find a museum dedicated to Sergey Yesenin on the map. As it turns out, Russian poet spent only a short time in the city, from mid-May to early June 1921. Nonetheless, there is an entire building, albeit a small one, dedicated to the Yesenin Museum.
A Bit of History
The Sergey Yesenin Museum in Tashkent was opened in 1981. The exhibition was created with funds from the state and donations from the poet’s descendants. The museum's collection includes 3,000 items related to Yesenin's life, and it attracts around 5,000 visitors annually.
The museum is located in the eastern part of Tashkent. As far as I understand, the building that houses the exhibition is not directly connected to Yesenin’s visit to Tashkent. However, this area was home to Alexander Vasilyevich Abramov (Shiryaevets), Yesenin’s pen pal, who invited the poet to Tashkent.
The current exhibition, as we see it today, was organized in 1999. The collection now occupies four halls, and the building also has a lecture hall that can accommodate 50 people.
In the hall titled "Yesenin in Tashkent," you can see a reconstructed living room of a 1920s Tashkent house. According to the museum's website, this is what the room of Tashkent poet Valentin Volpin looked like, where Yesenin recited the monologue of Ataman Khlopusha from his dramatic poem "Pugachyov."
The next two halls are called "Yesenin and the East" and "Yesenin and Us." In addition to numerous exhibits, visitors can see the poet’s death mask and the suitcase in which Yesenin kept his belongings during his last days at the Hotel Angleterre.
How to Get to the Sergey Yesenin Museum
The museum’s address is 20 Kary-Niyazi Street. You can easily map out a route using Yandex Maps. The eastern exit of the "Hamid Olimjon" metro station is just a five-minute walk from the museum.
I visited the museum in early spring 2024, and entry was free. The tour was accompanied by an engaging guide who shared many interesting stories. At the end of the tour, he offered the option to donate any amount towards the museum's development, but it was not mandatory.
A few nearby attractions that I’ve mentioned in my blog are worth a visit: right near the metro is the "Moscow Houses" complex, and a bit further is the cozy Central Park (Mirzo Ulugbek Central Park), a great spot to relax during the warmer months.
Have a nice trip!
