THE CENTURY-OLD MUSEUM

The mansion with a beautiful facade on 4 Zeynalabdin Taghiyev Street in Baku is known to everyone. It is also known that was built by the famous philanthropist and oil tycoon Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev between 1896-1901 as a wedding present to his beloved wife. The monograms of ST—Sona Taghiyeva are still present above the visors of both entrances. The building is home for the National Museum of the History of Azerbaijan. It is one of the first state museums housing unique samples of national culture, which made it possible to create several independent museums in the 1930s: fine art, theater, literature, etc. Each time, visiting the next exhibition or passing next to the Museum of History of Azerbaijan, one thinks that the millionaire and philanthropist, actual state councillor Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev would be happy to see his beautiful mansion, intended for happy family life, has become a repository of the history of his people and a source of knowledge for new generations of Azerbaijanis. I don’t want even to think about how in May 1920 he received an instruction about leaving his own house. It is unlikely that the message about making the house a history museum would be soften the blow. But without going into chronological details of events related to the establishment of the museum, we can confidently say that Zeynalabdin-bey would be very pleased, knowing that his house is in full architectural order, as well as the house itself. It's not about sanitary standards, but about the careful attitude to the intellectual, historical heritage and scientific research thought that are preserved and developed by the museum staff. It has become a strong connecting link between the past, present and future of the nation, and has confidently entered the cultural component of the city and Azerbaijan in general.

From the past to the present

The museum has become the State Museum of the Azerbaijan SSR since October 25, 1920. One hundred years later, after the next repair carried out by order of President Ilham Aliyev, its grand opening will take place in October 2020. An event that is given national importance in the country. It is a shame that Mr. State Councillor Taghiev will not see the event. It is a shame that his daughter Sara-khanum, who had tried to rehabilitate the good name of her father for so many years, will not see the event either. And now the street where their beautiful home still stands is named after her father. I wonder if the ghosts of those who once wandered around the rooms and halls of the building look in the mirror before going out onto the street? If so, I think, they are satisfied. Because the memory lives in this house, including the good deeds and endeavors of its owner—Zeynalabdin Taghiev. And it is important that the guardian of this house since 1998 has been Naila-khanim Velikhanli, Doctor of History, academician of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. A passionate and caring person, she knows how to organize the work of her employees so that the museum does not become a frozen premise, like a petrified sculpture of everything that is called history, but lives and develops in accordance with the requirements of the time. And for this reason, everyone who works in the museum of history is obliged to constantly improve knowledge of the subject, keeping in line with new discoveries in historical science and archaeology. Knowing about the discovery of new historical monuments, new scientific concepts, new artifacts is the professional duty of each employee. In addition, the museum also provides educational information through various lectures, conferences, disputes and discussions, quizzes, the work of the Taghiyev Club, the club of young archaeologists, the club of young museologists, etc. All this is for children of middle and senior school age, for students and everyone (without age restrictions) who are interested in the historical past and present of their country, who are concerned about the problem of identifying national consciousness in the framework of universal culture, etc. In a word, people are working here with a creative approach to the cause, which they serve faithfully, because it is the director of the museum and patriot of Azerbaijan, Naila Velikhanly, who sets the tone for the process of professional responsibility.

"This year your museum will celebrate one hundred years from the date of its founding. What events do you plan to celebrate the date?”

"We plan to publish several catalogs and books devoted to the scientific and educational activities of the museum, including The ABC of the Museum, History of Azerbaijan in hundred exhibits, a book about the Taghiyev Palace, etc. This is not only a museum of history, but also the Taghiyev Memorial Home Museum founded by decision of President Ilham Aliyev in 2007. It consists of ten rooms. We are in the eastern hall, Taghiyev’s office. But there is also a bedroom, his wife’s boudoir, library, dining room, etc.”

"Is it not crowded here with the huge number of exhibits that reflect the overall historical course of  Azerbaijan, and the dramatic plot of the history of Taghiyev himself and his family?”

"Of course, it is crowded here! That’s why it would be very good to move the exhibits related to the history of Taghiyev and his family to his palace, and to build a new convenient building for the vast historical period of the country with parking spaces and a beautiful landscape such as, for example, the one at the former Sovietskaia neighbourhood. For so many exhibits and artifacts that the Museum of History has, we need a new building with all the modern technologies that help to keep both exhibits of storerooms and exhibits in the exhibition halls in the proper temperature regime. With such a huge amount of exhibition material, we are not able to exhibit them on an ongoing basis. We just don't have enough space. That’s why, in order to make enough room for the exposition, we had to transfer exactly half of the unique library to the library of the Academy of Sciences.”

"Does not the museum building meet modern technological standards?”

"Not exactly. President Aliyev instructed to repair the alarm system, install special lighting system, interactive screens, as well as to bring in new exhibits. But the space of the palace is too small to accommodate everything that the historical museum has. We must show the whole history of our people, from ancient times to the latest events. It is necessary to constantly exhibit those chronological facts and changes that will give a complete and whole picture of the historical process. This is very important and necessary for the sake of historical self-identification of present and future generations. But we do not have such an opportunity, unfortunately. Therefore, the exposition only covers the period until 1920. But the next hundred years of the country's historical life remain in storerooms.”

"But you periodically hold thematic exhibitions. I remember the exposition dedicated to ADR...”

"Yes. And not only. But after the show, the exhibits again go back to the storerooms. We would like to have a permanent space for them.”

"Are we going to see interesting exhibits from the storerooms during the centenary celebrations?”

"Definitely. These will be exhibitions dedicated to the Silk Road and the origin of sericulture in Azerbaijan, as well as the weapons used by our ancestors. In April, we will launch a large exhibition dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the Great Victory over fascism. We have a huge amount of material, and some of them will be sent to Moscow for demonstration at the VDNKh exhibition. Most importantly, in October, we will hold an international conference on named “The Museum of the 21st Century: Problems of Correlation between Classical and Interactive”. Modern technologies have entered our life and become its integral part. How to combine both? This is what we will reflect on with our colleagues from Azerbaijan and abroad.”

"The cost of your tickets is five manats. This is not so much money for such a large architectural building to solve extrabudgetary problems. Does the museum have a sponsor like Taghiyev himself?”

"Our sponsor and patron is our state. We are very grateful to our president, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, for his attention to our museum, for his time that he spends to solve our problems. Thanks to his participation, a beautiful architectural building received a second life. Thus, the memory of Zeynalabdin Taghiyev was immortalized forever. As for the cost of admission tickets, we need to think about it. The practice of museum work in other countries shows that the pricing policy for the consumption of historical values can also be flexible.”

"Maybe you should review the ticket price?”

“We will think about it. But for now we have decided to ban the use of mobile phones by our visitors. This is not an innovation, and many museums in the world have already followed this practice. Visitors are required to hand in their at the entrance to the museum. This is done for many reasons, including to prevent excursions from turning into selfie shows.”

"In recent years, you have published a large number of unique catalogs. They are a great visual aid and guide to the periods of our history. There are catalogs that display exhibits about our cultural and historical heritage, but owned by museums in other countries. Is it possible to buy these exhibits for our museum?”

"Alas. We operate under the auspices of the Academy of Sciences, which has many similar facilities as ours. Plus we need a lot of money to purchase exhibits abroad.”

"Now that the preparations for the anniversary are in full swing, what is your dream?”

"I am dreaming about a new modern building for the Museum of the History of Azerbaijan. If so, then the house of Zeynalabdin Tagiyev will become a home museum.”

Well, a very beautiful and noble dream of a noble person who thinks of preserving historical memory for her people. There is even some mystical connection of the times, which is expressed through the mission of continuity of noble aspirations, dedication, and joy about the welfare of the people who came from there from Taghiyev’s time. Indeed, if the dream of Naila Velikhanly comes true, Baku will get another beautiful museum to make the soul of Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev, as well as his daughter’s—Sara-khanim, rest in piece. Because historical justice can be restored only when the whole Taghiyev family, passing through a chain of dramatic and tragic events, regains their home. The home that was taken away not by us. In Ayaz Salayev’s documentary Father, we hear Sara’s memories of her father and the house in which she was born. She died in 1991, and, alas, she did not see the architectural renovation that we can admire today.