The Russian Felt Boots Museum

In early 2000, individual entrepreneur Boris Smorodov opened the “Russian Felt Boots” company for the production of hand-rolled felt boots. A long forgotten old folk craft – the production of hand-rolled felt boots, was revived. The idea of creating a museum came to Boris Nikolaevich a long time ago, but he encountered problems when trying to find a spot for the museum. Then he reconstructed the building, which had been constructed in 1967. In 2012 together with a like-minded person – artist-decorator Vladimir Vladimirovich Kalinkin, he opened the museum of felt boots in the city of Vyshny Volochek. The items in the museum’s exposition was collected from the surrounding villages, purchased in antique shops, and given by fellow countrymen.

The museum hosts both individual and collective tours with visits to production workshops, including tours for foreign tourists. Masterclasses are held for schoolchildren and children from orphanages. The museum attracts the attention of TV, radio channels, and various media outlets.

The collection includes exhibits related to the history of the production of Russian felt boots from the beginning of the 19th century to the present:

– tools, felting machines;

– paintings, felt boots and toys, made by felting;

– “Vladimir Central” felt boots in honor of the famous singer Mikhail Krug;

– felt boots installations of “Vladimir Central” and “Peter the first”, “M. I. Serdukov” stories (the old wooden carding machine of 1828 release);

– “Tsar of Felt Boots” (the largest felt boots in the world with a height of 2.25 m, weighing 52 kg and size 201);

– the largest mitten in the world, and so on.