About the AK-47 Kalashnikov Museum

"Izhevsk Arms: two centuries of glory"
Language: English/Russian (bilingual)
Limited print of 2000.
Collectors editon, sells exclusively
at the Kalashnikov Museum Gift Shop
Authors: M.Dragunov et al.
Hardcover: 180 pages

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The Kalashnikov Weapons Museum and Exhibition Center was opened in the city of Izhevsk, Russia on November 4, 2004 - one week prior to Mikhail Kalashnikov's 85th birthday.
The construction of the museum began back in 1996, but was suspended due to insufficient funding. During a visit to Izhevsk in 2003, the CEO of RAO "UES of Russia", Anatoly Chubais, had meetings with Mikhail Kalashnikov, the Udmurt Republic authorities, and potential investors.
As a result of this visit, a funding schedule was established for the project in order that the museum and exhibition center could be opened before the designer's birthday.
The budget of the project exceeded US$8,000,000 - among the sponsors were the Governments of Izhevsk, the Udmurt Republic, and Moscow, RAO "UES of Russia", Rosvooruzhenie, companies from Russia, Belarus, Hungary, Germany and many others.
The museum is located in the central square of Izhevsk. The total area for the 3 exhibition halls is over 400 square meters.
The Russian press commented that "Kalashnikov had received a most expensive gift, and had become the "wealthiest" Russian", but Kalashnikov, being a man of tact, always stresses that "this palace doesn't glorify me, it glorifies the gunsmiths of Izhevsk".
As for "…the most expensive gift" - there was another gift made on the day the museum opened. This is a gift that Kalashnikov "just couldn't believe", a gift that for Kalashnikov overshadowed even having a museum in his name - read on to find out what this was.
To this day, this is the only museum in Russia devoted to a small arms designer. The displays in the museum present the life and work of Mikhail Kalashnikov, and feature examples of the weapons designed by him.

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The designer himself has donated to the museum photos, archives, memoirs, video materials, numerous certificates of merit and awards, and his own collection of edged weapons. At present, the museum's collection contains about 5,000 items.
However, this is not just one more weapons museum - on the contrary, visitors become acquainted with a lively, intelligent and sensitive person. There are plenty of household items on display, and voice of Mikhail Kalashnikov follows you throughout the exhibition.
The Museum & Exhibition Center is a product of a broad collaboration: the unique building was designed by a group of Izhevsk architects led by Petr Fomin, the exhibition scenarios are the work of the Museum Design Lab (a subsidiary of the Russian Institute for the Study of Culture); the unique reconstruction of living quarters and other elements of interior design are the brainchild of the Ekaterinburg based "Studio Artefactum".

There is a definite concept around which the exhibition is planned, and there is a real message to be conveyed. While preparing this guide, we studied a large number of publications on the subject of Museum of Kalashnikov.
However, being fully aware now of the concept of the museum and exactly how the exhibition is organized, we decided not merely to explain the official version in greater detail, because we do not want to spoil the experience when visitors actually visit the exhibition and get a very special first impression.
Rather, we hope that our illustrated guide will provide enough background material for you to form your very own opinion and feelings. Please share your opinions with us - your comments are always welcome!

Images:
Pic.1-2: Right to left: Alexander Volkov, President of Udmurt Republic; Mikhail Kalashnikov, designer of the AK-47; Anatoly Chubais, (CEO of Russian Joint Energy Systems RAO "UES of Russia"); and, Yuri Pitkevich, Prime Minister of Udmurt Republic. (Image credit: Web site of RAO "UES of Russia")
Pic.1-3: The official opening of the Museum. Center: The famous designer of the AK-47, Mikhail Kalashnikov, (to the right) Alexander Volkov, President of Udmurt Republic; (to the left) Anatoly Chubais, the Chairman of the Management Board of RAO "UES of Russia"; and, Yuri Pitkevich, Prime Minister of Udmurt Republic. (Image credit: Official Web site of Udmurt Republic)
Pic.1-4: Kalashnikov eagerly listens to what the guide has to say. Left to right: Alexander Volkov, President of Udmurt Republic; Victor Balakin, Mayor of Izhevsk; Anatoly Chubais, CEO of RAO "UES of Russia"; and, Mikhail Kalashnikov, designer of the AK-47. (Image credit: Web site of RAO "UES of Russia")

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