Irbit Museum of Folk Life

About museum

The Museum of Folk Life was opened on May 23, 2011, with the direct participation of a resident of the town, entrepreneur and collector Mikhail Ivanovich Smerdov. The building formerly housed a vodka factory, and today it is one of Irbit's most attractive highlights for tourists. The museum was created with the idea of bringing together in one place all objects significant to the town's history of the famous fair trade. Here is assembled the largest collection of samovars, ranging from the smallest "Egoist" of 100 grams to the largest of 415 liters, installed on a real motorcycle — another symbol of the town. Tea from such a samovar can be served to 2,500 people at once! The museum strives to preserve the living traditions of tea drinking. Visitors are greeted with fragrant herbal tea served in glasses with metal holders (podstakanniks), as well as pancakes baked in a real Russian stove.