The Museum of Craft, Architecture and Everyday Life was established on July 17, 1991. It is located in the Gostev-Tsyplakov House, which is recognized as a monument of architecture. The museum was re-registered in 1997.
The exhibition reflects the life of the common people and lets you immerse yourself in a bygone era. Among the exhibits are some everyday objects that have become obsolete: steelyard balance, marlinspike, dice, carboys, and tools. Spears and pike poles from the time of the Great Stand on the Ugra River (1480) are also on display. On the second floor, you can see the original master plans for the city of Kaluga and lithographs depicting scenes of the everyday city life of the last century. A variety of tools, including knives, axes, sickles, fish hooks, and spindles, are presented on the second floor. Of particular interest is a Russian stove, where you can try to make fire with flint and steel. Visitors are allowed to touch and hold most of the exhibits.
In the courtyard of the estate, which is also considered a part of the monument of architecture, there is an area called Summer Yard of Folk Art, a great place for a family visit, where you can learn about family traditions and values, as well as traditional handicrafts.
Since 1991, the School of Masters of Folk Art of Kaluga Clay Figurine has been open in the museum. A clay toy workshop is located in a separate room on the second floor. On display here are clay figurines made in different time periods, using various techniques and materials. But they all have one thing in common — they were made in the Kaluga region. If you want, you can try and make a clay toy yourself.
