Odessa State Literary museum

Odessa State Literary Museum was founded in 1977. It occupies the palace built by the architect Ludwig Otton in the 19th century.

The collections located in 24 halls of the museum utilize real historical objects to trace the history of literary Odessa. More than three hundred writers are represented to the public. Rare editions, manuscripts, photos, albums, related objects are on view here.

The exhibition is divided into six collections. The first one reflects the history of Odessa from its foundation to 1861. The displays concerning A. S. Pushkin's N. V. Gogol's and Adam Mickievitz's life in Odessa are its main attraction.

The next collection relating to the period of the late 19th —early 20th centuries represents Maxim Gorky, K. I. Chukovsky, Lesya Ukrainka, V. G. Korolenko, I. S. Nechuy-Levitsky, I. A. Bunin, who lived in Odessa at that time.

The third collection includes the period from the Great October Socialists Revolution to 1930s. Here we meet such famous Odessites as E. G. Bag-ritsky, Yu, K. Olesha, V. P. Katayev, S. I. Oleinik, I. K. Mikitenko, to name just a few.

Literature of the period of the Great Patriotic War makes a special collection. The heroic defence of Odessa, the legendary partisan movement are reflected in great many books of the famous Soviet writers, the participants of the defence and liberation of the hero-city, such as K, M. Simonov, G. M. Pozhenyan, L. S. Sobolev, V. S. Kucher, G. A. Karev.

The Soviet literature of today makes the next collection. A special selection represents Odessa Writers' Organization. Its permanent exposition is constantly completed.

One of the halls illustrates friendly connections between the writers of different nations. Some expositions here were made in cooperation with the National Museum of Bulgarian Literature.

The Museum was opened to the public on July 15, 1984.