The Museum "Old Vladimir" or as it is called "Water Tower Museum" is located in the building of the water tower, which in the XIX century provided water to residents of Vladimir. In the middle of the last century, the tower was reconstructed and decided to transfer it to the category of local museums. Museum "Old Vladimir" was opened in 1975 and tells everyone about the history of the province of the city during the XIX-XX centuries.
The architecture of the Museum
The Museum building itself is made of red brick in the neo-Russian style and in appearance resembles a slightly expanded up the fortress tower (or tank).
The Windows of the tower are amazing: in each tier they have different heights, some of them are double. Original and brick decor-arches, arched niches, the so-called cornice rollers, which divide the tiers of the building.
Exposition of the Museum "Old Vladimir"
On the first floor of the Museum there are exhibitions devoted to the pre-revolutionary history of Vladimir. The exhibition of the second floor tells about the citizens and their main activities, and the third – about the spiritual life of Vladimir. On the fourth floor of the Museum, where the tank used to be located, now there is an observation deck, which leads to an exquisite spiral staircase. From the observation deck in front of visitors to the Museum opens a delightful view of Vladimir, you can see its white stone cathedrals, amazing monuments of architecture and architecture.
The Museum recreates the interiors of a Church shop, a police station, an Inn, the house of a wealthy citizen. You can see the mannequins, dressed in clothes of the past centuries.
Many newspaper articles, clippings and extracts from magazines tell about the life of old Vladimir. Before the visitors of the Museum is the life of the city in pictures: you can walk through the streets of the city, to spy on the lives of merchants, officials, peasants. Admire the wealthy ladies and gentle young ladies who are trying to follow the latest Parisian fashion. Curious, in particular, issues of "Marriage newspaper", telling about how in the past century, men and women were looking for each other, what was their language, requirements, ideas about family life. If you wish, you can buy copies of Newspapers and magazines at the Museum box office.
Guests of the Museum are invited to look at the numerous photos and postcards of the past centuries. Images is strictly of the city, squares, cathedrals. You can see bright billboards, posters, signs, driver's license of the beginning of the XX century, a collection of ancient castles, watches and even a medical ticket of a prostitute.