Historical and architectural complex "Simbirsk Defensive Line"

About museum

In 2000 archaeologists in Ulyanovsk discovered the remains of an ancient defensive structure, and in 2001 a section of the earthen rampart was restored and a watchtower reconstructed. In 2007 the exhibition "The Russian Army in the 17th Century: Organization of the Troops, Uniforms and Arms" was opened. On the tower's first and second tiers information about the troops and the size of the Russian army in the 17th century is displayed, as well as images of soldiers, examples of weaponry, defensive structures and maps from the manuscript album of Swedish Captain Erik Palmqvist. The third tier of the tower presents information on Russian wooden fortress architecture and the construction of defensive works. On the territory of the historic and architectural complex, following a design by A. A. Shodé, a carriage-house building was constructed, housing the exhibition "Mills of Simbirsk". Here you can see a working model of a water mill and learn about the history of mills from ancient times to the early 20th century.