V.F. Bokov House-Museum

About museum

Literary-memorial, local-history museum, the first museum in Russia opened during the lifetime of the figure. The museum is dedicated to the poet, prose writer, folklore collector, and author of the nationally beloved songs 'Orenburg Down Shawl', 'A Young Sailor Goes on Leave', 'Oh, Snow, Little Snow' – Viktor Fedorovich Bokov (1914–2009).
The museum was established in the family house in the village of Yazvitsy, Sergiyevo-Posadsky District, where the poet was born, spent his childhood and youth, and wrote his first poems.
Long before the idea of creating the museum, meetings and festivals dedicated to the talented countryman were held in the poet's homeland. The popularity of Viktor Bokov's songs was so great that admirers of his work often made pilgrimages to his native place.
The ceremonial opening of the House-Museum took place on September 19, 2003, the poet's birthday, and Viktor Fedorovich Bokov became its first visitor.
The museum has a Visitor Book. The first entry in it was made by the poet himself:

"....I welcome you, visitor of the Viktor Bokov museum, native of the village of Yazvitsy; I welcome you as a good guest, because my poetry affirms goodness. My songs, including 'The Orenburg Down Shawl', are a glorification of humanity and kindness; they are a hymn to the unity of generations. I will be glad for your feedback, for your understanding of Russia, its poetic essence.

17 September 2003. Viktor Bokov.
Visit the museum!"

The core of the museum's exhibition consists of collections that illuminate the main stages of the poet's life and the directions of his work. Unique items are highlighted: originals of letters by M. Prishvin, B. Pasternak, M. Isakovsky and other outstanding figures of the 20th century, with whom V. Bokov maintained long-standing friendships.

The literary part of the exhibition outlines V. Bokov's creative path and his contribution to world literature. The poet's personal belongings, historical documents, and correspondence reflect how his fate was woven into the literary and historical processes of the Soviet and post-Soviet periods of our country's history.

The memorial part of the exhibition tells about the time and the people who lived in this house, and about the first steps of young Vitya into the world of literature.

In the House-Museum's program, besides thematic guided tours on the poet's life and work, interactive programs, musical salons, poetry evenings, master classes and many other events are held. Every year in summer and autumn large-scale concert events are held – the song-folklore festival 'Summer Day in Yazvitsy' and the literary-musical festival 'Bokov Autumn', timed to the poet's birthday, featuring performances by People's and Honored Artists of the Russian Federation, as well as professional and amateur ensembles from the Moscow Region and other regions.