State Historical Museum of Kyrgyzstan

The national history museum of Kyrgyzstan, occupying a monumental building on Ala-Too Square in central Bishkek. Its collections trace the country's past from ancient nomadic cultures and Silk Road contacts through the Soviet period to independence, with archaeology, ethnography and applied arts. Displays include traditional yurts, felt crafts, jewellery, weaponry and material tied to the Manas epic. Long a landmark of the capital, it serves as the principal institution for the study of the nation's heritage.