Izhevsk - Museums

56°49N 53°11E, pop (2000e) 690 000. Capital city of Udmurtia, Russia; founded, 1760; city status, 1918; capital of Udmurtia, 1921; renamed in honour of Soviet armaments politician, Dmitri Fedorovich Ustinov (1908–84); airfield; railway; university; cultural and educational centre; metalworking, machine building, motorcycles, paper, foodstuffs.

Izhevsk (Russian: Иже́вск), from 1985 to 1987—Ustinov, after Dmitri Ustinov, is the capital and culture center of the Udmurt Republic, Russia.

Formerly an engineering town, it was established as a place where all manner of metalworking could be done, such as the manufacture of machines and arms. Izhevsk is the site of one of the most famous arsenals in Russia, at which Mikhail Kalashnikov designed his famous AK-47 assault rifle.

During Soviet times Izhevsk was a closed city, with restricted access for foreign people, due to the large amount of military manufacturing that was done there.

During the post-Soviet period Izhevsk became known as home to a vibrant art and music scene. Today circus acts from Izhevsk, other Russian and European cities entertain visitors at the Izhevsk Circus.

In 2006 Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez visited Izhevsk to tour the Izhmash manufacturing center where many modern armaments and manufactures are still produced.

Museums

Izhevsk's most notable museums include the Kalashnikov Museum (weapons), Galina Kulakova Museum, the Gallery of National Arts (paintings), and the Arsenal Museum (history of Izhevsk).