Exhibition "History of the Town of Elektrougli"

About exhibition

The exhibits tell the story of the town of Elektrougli, which is notable for its history. Elektrougli was granted the status of an urban-type settlement in 1956. The first written mention of the small village of Kamenka, now part of the town's central area, dates back to 1623. In Soviet times the Elektrougli plant was the largest enterprise in the electrocoal industry. High-brightness electrocoal electrodes developed locally were used in anti-aircraft searchlights during the Great Patriotic War (World War II); the celebrated Marshal G.K. Zhukov, in his memoirs, mentions the use of searchlights in a night attack during the assault on Berlin. The exhibition features electrocoal products for various purposes, archival photographs, documents, and personal belongings of prominent townspeople. The collection of ceramic items tells of the development of the local brick industry from cottage production to an industrial complex that produced, among other things, blocks for Moscow's high-rises — the university building, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ukraina Hotel, and others. A series of portraits, "Defenders of Our Fatherland," by artist Yuri Isaev depicts residents of Elektrougli who took part in the Great Patriotic War, including Heroes of the Soviet Union. The exhibition also displays antiques formerly owned by local families. Visitors can see spinning wheels, yokes, small barrels, cast-iron pots and other items of peasant everyday life. Guided tours of the exhibition are available by prior arrangement by phone: 8-(496)513-20-68.